Cannabis Coping Motives Might Mediate the Association Between PTSD Symptom Severity and Trauma Cue–Elicited Cannabis Craving

Atasoy, Pars; Lambe, Laura; DeGrace, Sarah; Cosman, Tessa; Romero-Sanchiz, Pablo; Stewart, Sherry H.

doi:10.1007/s11469-023-01190-z

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 44 publications

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“…Motives for cannabis use were assessed with three relevant subscales from the Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM; Simons et al, 1998): social (five items; present sample α = 0.812); enhancement (five items; α = 0.830), and coping (four items; α = 0.851). Given recent recommendations that studies of coping motives for cannabis use should also consider use to manage symptoms of an emotional disorder (Atasoy et al, 2023), we also included two author-compiled items at the end of the MMM as follows: "to manage psychological symptoms" and "to treat a psychological condition. " This new two-item scale showed good internal consistency (α = 0.805) and was moderately correlated but non-redundant with the MMM coping motives scale (r = 0.515, p < 0.001).…”

Section: Cannabis Use Motivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sexual assault vs. other traumatic experiences on emotional and cannabis use outcomes in regular cannabis users with trauma histories: moderation by gender?

Stewart,

Khoury,

Watt

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionWhile sexual assault may have particularly adverse emotional effects compared with other forms of trauma, it remains unclear which emotional outcome dimensions are impacted, whether cannabis outcomes are similarly impacted, and whether gender differences exist in sexual assault’s links with these outcomes.MethodsN = 100 cannabis users with trauma histories (M age = 33.1) completed standardized measures of demographics, trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress (PTS) and depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and cannabis outcomes (frequency, medicinal prescription, motives, and craving).ResultsSexual assault was experienced more often by women (83.9%) than men (31.8%). A series of 2 × 2 analyses of variance [gender: women (n = 56) vs. men (n = 44) × trauma type: sexual assault (n = 61) vs. other (n = 39)] and logistic regression revealed that sexual assault survivors scored higher than other trauma survivors on re-experiencing and hyperarousal PTS symptoms (DSM-5 Clusters B and E), cognitive depressive symptoms, hopelessness, cannabis use frequency, medicinal cannabis prescription, cannabis use to cope with psychological symptoms, and compulsivity craving; and lower on social and enhancement cannabis use motives. In terms of gender main effects, women scored higher than men on cannabis use to cope with negative emotions. In terms of interactions for PTS Cluster D symptoms (negative alterations in mood/cognitions), among men only, sexual assault survivors scored higher than other trauma survivors; and for cannabis enhancement motives and purposefulness cannabis craving, among sexual assault survivors only, women scored higher than men.DiscussionAcross many different trauma, women survivors’ use of cannabis to cope with negative affect should be a specific therapeutic focus. Moreover, we identified specific emotional and cannabis use outcomes that should be of specific clinical concern among sexual assault survivors regardless of gender. Finally, in terms of gender differences of clinical interest among sexual assault survivors, while PTS Cluster D symptoms should be specific treatment targets in men, cannabis enhancement motives and purposefulness craving should be treatment targets in women.

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Section: Cannabis Use Motivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of sexual assault vs. other traumatic experiences on emotional and cannabis use outcomes in regular cannabis users with trauma histories: moderation by gender?

Stewart,

Khoury,

Watt

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

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Outcomes of an adapted prolonged exposure psychotherapy for people with early phase psychosis, substance misuse, and a history of adversity: the PE + trial

Patterson,

Tibbo,

Stewart

et al. 2024

BMC Psychiatry

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Background Several adversity-focused treatment trials have reported improvements to adversity sequelae (e.g., PTSD symptoms) and decreases in psychotic symptoms among individuals with psychotic disorders. Yet, no trials have examined the impact of adversity-focused treatment on substance use or examined the outcomes among an early phase psychosis population. These gaps in both the research literature and clinical practice have resulted in less knowledge about the outcomes of adversity-focused treatment at this stage of illness, including the impact on substance use. Methods The outcomes of an adapted prolonged exposure protocol (PE+) among an early phase psychosis population were examined using a multiple-baseline design. Nineteen adults with a psychotic disorder, current substance misuse, and a history of adversity were recruited from an early psychosis program. Participants were randomized to treatment start time and participated in a 15-session course of PE + therapy. Ten assessments were completed focusing on primary outcomes (i.e., adversity sequelae, negative psychotic symptoms, substance misuse) and secondary outcomes (i.e., functioning, hopelessness, experiential avoidance). The Reliable Change Index (RCI) was used to establish whether there were clinically significant changes to primary or secondary outcomes. Results Half or more of treatment completers experienced clinically significant changes to most domains of adversity sequelae, no participants experienced improvements in negative psychotic symptoms, and substance misuse increased for several participants. In terms of secondary outcomes, functioning and experiential avoidance were improved for a number of participants, while hopelessness decreased for only one participant. Participants reported high satisfaction with the PE + treatment, and exposure and coping skills were rated as the most helpful elements of treatment. Conclusions Reductions in adversity sequelae were observed following PE + treatment, suggesting that adversity-focused treatment may be beneficial for an early psychosis population. Yet, few positive changes to psychotic symptoms or substance use were observed. Further integrating treatment strategies for psychosis and substance use into PE + may be required to effectively treat the links between psychosis, adversity sequelae, and substance use. Future studies should make efforts to integrate substance use strategies into adversity treatment trials for people with psychotic disorders. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04546178; registration posted 11/09/2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04546178?term=NCT04546178&draw=2&rank=1.

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Cannabis Coping Motives Might Mediate the Association Between PTSD Symptom Severity and Trauma Cue–Elicited Cannabis Craving

Cited by 2 publications

References 44 publications

Effects of sexual assault vs. other traumatic experiences on emotional and cannabis use outcomes in regular cannabis users with trauma histories: moderation by gender?

Effects of sexual assault vs. other traumatic experiences on emotional and cannabis use outcomes in regular cannabis users with trauma histories: moderation by gender?

Outcomes of an adapted prolonged exposure psychotherapy for people with early phase psychosis, substance misuse, and a history of adversity: the PE + trial

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