Suicidality risk after using cannabis and cannabinoids: An umbrella review

Abstract

The increasing prevalence and burden of suicide have led to numerous studies to identify its risk factors. Cannabis is the most common illicit substance detected in suicide victims’ toxicology tests. This study aims to identify and appraise systematic reviews investigating suicidality after using cannabis and cannabinoids. Seven databases and two registries were searched without restrictions for systematic reviews investigating cannabis effects on suicidality. AMSTAR-2 was used for quality assessment and corrected covered area and citation matrix were used to determine overlap. Twenty-five studies were included, of which 24 were on recreational use and one was on therapeutic use. Only three of the studies on recreational use reported no effect or inconsistent results. Evidence generally showed a positive association between cannabis use and suicidal ideation and attempt among the general population, military veterans, and bipolar or major depression patients. A bidirectional causal association between cannabis and suicidal ideation was also mentioned. Moreover, a younger age of initiation, long-term use, and heavy consumption were reported to be associated with even worse suicidal outcomes. On the contrary, current evidence indicates that the therapeutic cannabis is safe. In conclusion, the literature supports the cannabis-suicidality association in recreational use but considers cannabidiol safe for treatment. Further studies with quantitative and interventional approaches are recommended.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on ulcerative colitis: An overview of systematic reviews

“…Each item is evaluated as “yes” (fully reported or implemented) or “no” (not reported), and items 2, 4, 7, 8, and 9 can also be evaluated as “partial yes” (not fully reported). Finally, the methodological quality was graded as follows: high quality (none or one noncritical defect); medium quality (more than one noncritical defect); low quality (one critical defect, with or without noncritical defects); and severely low quality (more than one critical defect, with or without noncritical defects) [ [28] , [29] , [30] ].…”

Fármacos enteógenos y la depresión resistente al tratamiento: Una revisión narrativa

“…Como puede verse, varios estudios sugieren que los cannabinoides pueden ser de utilidad en la terapéutica de los pacientes con depresión si se usan los principios activos (ver las referencias citadas en el párrafo anterior; también, Bell et al, 2023;Chen y Nakagawa, 2023;Hasbi et al, 2023). Aun así, es posible que la calidad de vida empeore si el paciente que sufre depresión se auto medica con marihuana (Nielsen et al, 2022), incluso, puede facilitar el suicidio (Shamabadi et al, 2023).…”

Herbal Cannabis and Depression: A Review of Findings Published over the Last Three Years

“…Reviews covering findings obtained over the last two to three decades conclude in a reasonably consistent fashion that herbal cannabis aggravates rather than ameliorates mood disorders and depression in particular [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, early cannabis use may lower the age of onset of mood disorders and increase suicidality [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”