Regular cannabis use is associated with history of childhood and lifetime trauma in a non-clinical community sample

Nia, Anahita Bassir; Weleff, Jeremy; Fogelman, Nia; Nourbakhsh, Sormeh; Sinha, Rajita

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.036

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 63 publications

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“…Although most studies examine substances as a group, or separate alcohol from other drugs of abuse, some studies have examined the links of trauma exposure generally, and sexual assault specifically, to indices of cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD). For example, trauma exposure, in general, has been associated with increased odds of cannabis use (Kevorkian et al, 2015) and regular cannabis use (Bassir Nia et al, 2023). Concerning studies that have specifically focused on sexual assault/childhood sexual abuse and cannabis outcomes, Abajobir et al (2017) examined substantiated cases of childhood maltreatment and links to CUD 21 years later.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

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: Introductionmentioning

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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Expressive Writing About One's Trauma Increases Accessibility of Cannabis Information in Memory Among Trauma-Exposed Individuals

DeGrace,

Tibbo,

Pilin

et al. 2024

Cannabis

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Objective: Trauma survivors are more likely than others to use cannabis, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly co-occurs with cannabis use disorder (CUD). Automatic memory associations between trauma reminders and cannabis use have been suggested as contributing mechanisms. These associations can be studied experimentally by manipulating trauma cue exposure in a cue-reactivity paradigm (CRP) and examining effects on the accessibility of cannabis information in memory in trauma survivors with and without PTSD. Method: Cannabis users with trauma histories (N = 202) completed a PTSD measure (PTSD Checklist-5) and were randomized to a trauma or neutral expressive writing task as an online CRP. Next, participants completed a cue-behavior word association task, which involved presentation of a series of ambiguous cue words to which participants provided the first word that came to mind. Some of these ambiguous cues pertained to cannabis (e.g., weed, pot) and some to other substances (e.g., blow, shot). This task was scored by two independent raters. Linear regression models tested the hypothesized main and interactive effects of CRP condition (trauma, neutral) and PTSD group (probable PTSD, no PTSD) on the number of cannabis and other substance responses generated. Results: Main effects of CRP condition were found for cannabis responses (b = 0.41, p = 0.048; trauma > neutral) but not other substance responses. Unexpectedly, no main effects or interactions of PTSD group were observed for either outcome. Conclusions: In cannabis users with trauma histories, writing about one’s trauma specifically activates greater accessibility of cannabis-related information in memory, regardless of PTSD.

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Cannabis use among hospitalised adolescents before and after decriminalisation in South Africa

Swartz,

Dannatt,

Lachman

2024

South African Journal of Psychiatry

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Background: Cannabis is the most widely used substance worldwide, and its use is much higher among adolescents. However, adolescents are at higher risk of negative sequelae secondary to this use, including the possible development of mental disorders. On 31 March 2017, the South African High Court ruled that cannabis use by an adult in a private dwelling should be decriminalised.Aim: This study aimed to determine the clinical profile of adolescents who use cannabis, who use, who present to a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, before and after the high court ruling in 2017.Setting: Folder review of adolescents admitted at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) in the Emergency Psychiatric Unit.Methods: This study was a retrospective folder review of adolescents admitted from April 2015 to March 2019.Results: Cannabis was the most commonly used substance in the study, with increased use seen post-ruling. The most common frequency of cannabis use reported was daily. A significantly higher proportion of patients who used cannabis pre-ruling had psychotic disorder (p 0.001) and cannabis use disorder (p = 0.01). Post-ruling, the results were statistically significant (p 0.001) for both.Conclusion: The study showed an increasing prevalence of cannabis use in adolescents admitted with mental illness after the high court ruling in 2017. This study also demonstrates that adolescents remain a vulnerable population to the effects of cannabis and highlights the need for further research.Contribution: The findings of this study call for more focussed adolescent interventions and services.

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Regular cannabis use is associated with history of childhood and lifetime trauma in a non-clinical community sample

Cited by 3 publications

References 63 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?

Expressive Writing About One's Trauma Increases Accessibility of Cannabis Information in Memory Among Trauma-Exposed Individuals

Cannabis use among hospitalised adolescents before and after decriminalisation in South Africa

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