OBJECTIVE: Systematically review the scientific literature to characterize the effects of cannabis use on brain structure, function, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in adolescents and young adults with ADHD. METHOD: Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines utilizing PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL trials register from inception until 1 January 2020. Articles that examined the impact of cannabis use on youth with ADHD were included. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified that compared outcomes for individuals with ADHD who used cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids against those with ADHD who did not. Seven of these studies used neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, structural MRI, and SPECT. Differential regions of activation were identified, including the right hippocampus and cerebellar vermis, and bilateral temporal lobes. Morphological differences were identified in the right precentral and postcentral gyri, left nucleus accumbens, right superior frontal and postcentral gyri. No study identified any additive or ADHD × cannabis use interaction on neuropsychological tasks of executive function. Two studies found adverse differential impacts of early-onset cannabis use in this population. CONCLUSION: A dearth of evidence is available on the impact of cannabis use on the developing brain and functioning for individuals with ADHD, despite the elevated risk for substance use in this population. The limited, potentially underpowered evidence does not support the hypothesis that cannabis use has a deleterious impact on neuropsychological tasks in transitional age youth with ADHD. Larger and longer-term studies are needed, however, to better inform clinicians and patients as to the impacts of cannabis use in youth with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE: Systematically review the scientific literature to characterize the effects of cannabis use on brain structure, function, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in adolescents and young adults with ADHD. METHOD: Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines utilizing PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL trials register from inception until 1 January 2020. Articles that examined the impact of cannabis use on youth with ADHD were included. RESULTS: Eleven studies were identified that compared outcomes for individuals with ADHD who used cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids against those with ADHD who did not. Seven of these studies used neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI, structural MRI, and SPECT. Differential regions of activation were identified, including the right hippocampus and cerebellar vermis, and bilateral temporal lobes. Morphological differences were identified in the right precentral and postcentral gyri, left nucleus accumbens, right superior frontal and postcentral gyri. No study identified any additive or ADHD × cannabis use interaction on neuropsychological tasks of executive function. Two studies found adverse differential impacts of early-onset cannabis use in this population. CONCLUSION: A dearth of evidence is available on the impact of cannabis use on the developing brain and functioning for individuals with ADHD, despite the elevated risk for substance use in this population. The limited, potentially underpowered evidence does not support the hypothesis that cannabis use has a deleterious impact on neuropsychological tasks in transitional age youth with ADHD. Larger and longer-term studies are needed, however, to better inform clinicians and patients as to the impacts of cannabis use in youth with ADHD.
Authors: Elizabeth Harstad; Lauren E Wisk; Rosemary Ziemnik; Qian Huang; Parissa Salimian; Elissa R Weitzman; Sharon Levy Journal: J Dev Behav Pediatr Date: 2017 Jul/Aug Impact factor: 2.225
Authors: Jerod Rasmussen; B J Casey; Theo G M van Erp; Leanne Tamm; Jeffery N Epstein; Claudia Buss; James M Bjork; Brooke S G Molina; Katerina Velanova; Daniel H Mathalon; Leah Somerville; James M Swanson; Tim Wigal; L Eugene Arnold; Steven G Potkin Journal: Brain Imaging Behav Date: 2016-09 Impact factor: 3.978
Authors: Joanna Jacobus; Diane Goldenberg; Christina E Wierenga; Neil J Tolentino; Thomas T Liu; Susan F Tapert Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2012-03-07 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: John T Mitchell; Thomas S Weisner; Peter S Jensen; Desiree W Murray; Brooke S G Molina; L Eugene Arnold; Lily Hechtman; James M Swanson; Stephen P Hinshaw; Elizabeth C Victor; Scott H Kollins; Karen C Wells; Katherine A Belendiuk; Andrew Blonde; Celeste Nguyen; Lizeth Ambriz; Jenny L Nguyen Journal: J Atten Disord Date: 2017-02-01 Impact factor: 3.256
Authors: Slavica K Katusic; William J Barbaresi; Robert C Colligan; Amy L Weaver; Cynthia L Leibson; Steven J Jacobsen Journal: J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 2.576
Authors: Nadia Solowij; Katy A Jones; Megan E Rozman; Sasha M Davis; Joseph Ciarrochi; Patrick C L Heaven; Dan I Lubman; Murat Yücel Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2011-02-17 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: E A Osuch; K Manning; R A Hegele; J Théberge; R Neufeld; D Mitchell; P Williamson; R C Gardner Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2016-08-27 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: Nora D Volkow; George F Koob; Robert T Croyle; Diana W Bianchi; Joshua A Gordon; Walter J Koroshetz; Eliseo J Pérez-Stable; William T Riley; Michele H Bloch; Kevin Conway; Bethany G Deeds; Gayathri J Dowling; Steven Grant; Katia D Howlett; John A Matochik; Glen D Morgan; Margaret M Murray; Antonio Noronha; Catherine Y Spong; Eric M Wargo; Kenneth R Warren; Susan R B Weiss Journal: Dev Cogn Neurosci Date: 2017-10-10 Impact factor: 6.464