Andrea M Wycoff1, Jane Metrik2, Timothy J Trull3. 1. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA. Electronic address: amwt27@mail.missouri.edu. 2. Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA. 3. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although cannabis is often used for the purposes of relieving negative affective states such as anxiety and depression, the associations between cannabis use and affect in daily life are unclear. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been used to study these associations in individuals' natural environments, providing more ecological validity, minimizing retrospective bias, and allowing for the analysis of within-individual processes over time. This review focuses on studies that utilized EMA to examine daily-life associations of cannabis use and negative and positive affective states. METHODS: We review the findings of the 19 articles that met inclusion criteria, including clinical and community samples. RESULTS: Results provide equivocal evidence regarding relations between cannabis use and affect for community samples. Findings are mixed for clinical samples as well, but more consistent patterns emerge for general negative affect (NA) and anger/hostility at the momentary level; cannabis use may be more likely following increased NA and lead to decreases in NA and anger/hostility in psychiatric populations. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support a negative reinforcement hypothesis for clinical samples in terms of general NA and anger/hostility. However, discrepancies among studies point to a need to thoroughly characterize samples, consider motives for and expectancies of use, improve quantification of cannabis use, and consider co-use with other substances. Additional design recommendations are also offered for future studies.
BACKGROUND: Although cannabis is often used for the purposes of relieving negative affective states such as anxiety and depression, the associations between cannabis use and affect in daily life are unclear. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) has been used to study these associations in individuals' natural environments, providing more ecological validity, minimizing retrospective bias, and allowing for the analysis of within-individual processes over time. This review focuses on studies that utilized EMA to examine daily-life associations of cannabis use and negative and positive affective states. METHODS: We review the findings of the 19 articles that met inclusion criteria, including clinical and community samples. RESULTS: Results provide equivocal evidence regarding relations between cannabis use and affect for community samples. Findings are mixed for clinical samples as well, but more consistent patterns emerge for general negative affect (NA) and anger/hostility at the momentary level; cannabis use may be more likely following increased NA and lead to decreases in NA and anger/hostility in psychiatric populations. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support a negative reinforcement hypothesis for clinical samples in terms of general NA and anger/hostility. However, discrepancies among studies point to a need to thoroughly characterize samples, consider motives for and expectancies of use, improve quantification of cannabis use, and consider co-use with other substances. Additional design recommendations are also offered for future studies.
Authors: Paolo Fusar-Poli; José A Crippa; Sagnik Bhattacharyya; Stefan J Borgwardt; Paul Allen; Rocio Martin-Santos; Marc Seal; Simon A Surguladze; Colin O'Carrol; Zerrin Atakan; Antonio W Zuardi; Philip K McGuire Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2009-01
Authors: Carlos Blanco; Deborah S Hasin; Melanie M Wall; Ludwing Flórez-Salamanca; Nicolas Hoertel; Shuai Wang; Bradley T Kerridge; Mark Olfson Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 21.596
Authors: Mallory J E Loflin; Brian D Kiluk; Marilyn A Huestis; Will M Aklin; Alan J Budney; Kathleen M Carroll; Deepak Cyril D'Souza; Robert H Dworkin; Kevin M Gray; Deborah S Hasin; Dustin C Lee; Bernard Le Foll; Frances R Levin; Joshua A Lile; Barbara J Mason; Aimee L McRae-Clark; Ivan Montoya; Erica N Peters; Tatiana Ramey; Dennis C Turk; Ryan Vandrey; Roger D Weiss; Eric C Strain Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-04-26 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Courtney R Quick; Kevin P Conway; Joel Swendsen; Emma K Stapp; Lihong Cui; Kathleen R Merikangas Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2022-07-01 Impact factor: 25.911
Authors: Rachel L Tomko; Nathaniel L Baker; Caitlyn O Hood; Amanda K Gilmore; Erin A McClure; Lindsay M Squeglia; Aimee L McRae-Clark; Susan C Sonne; Kevin M Gray Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2019-11-11 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Angela K Stevens; Holly K Boyle; Mary B Miller; Kate Carey; Kristina M Jackson; Nancy P Barnett; Jennifer E Merrill Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2021-03-18