A Scoping Review of Associations Between Cannabis Use and Anxiety in Adolescents and Young Adults

Stiles‐Shields, Colleen; Archer, Joseph; Zhang, Junfeng Jim; Burnside, Amanda; Draxler, Janel M.; Potthoff, Lauren M.; Reyes, Karen M.; Williams, Faith Summersett; Westrick, Jennifer; Karnik, Niranjan S.

doi:10.1007/s10578-021-01280-w

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(91 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The pathophysiology by which this plant causes an anxiogenic effect in some individuals is poorly understood. Still, given that cannabis contains over 400 different chemical compounds, including 100 different cannabinoids, the pathology is likely to involve multiple pathways [18][19]. Teenagers and young children, whose brains are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to marijuana's neuropsychiatric effects [8][9].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabis-Induced Anxiety Disorder in the Emergency Department

Keung¹,

Leach²,

Kreuser³

et al. 2023

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: In December 2018, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize marijuana for adults. Since this law took effect, increased availability and use of cannabis in Michigan have led to increased emergency department (ED) visits associated with the drug's psychiatric effects.Objectives: To describe cannabis-induced anxiety disorder's prevalence, clinical features, and disposition in a community-based study.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive patients diagnosed with acute toxicity related to cannabis use (ICD-10 code F12). Patients were seen at seven EDs over a 24-month study period. Data collected included demographics, clinical features, and treatment outcomes in ED patients who met the criteria for cannabis-induced anxiety disorder. This group was compared to a cohort experiencing other forms of acute cannabis toxicity. Chi-squared and t-tests were used to compare these two groups across key demographic and outcome variables.Results: During the study period, 1135 patients were evaluated for acute cannabis toxicity. A total of 196 patients (17.3%) had a chief complaint of anxiety, and 939 (82.7%) experienced other forms of acute cannabis toxicity, predominantly symptoms of intoxication or cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. Patients with anxiety symptoms had panic attacks (11.7%), aggression or manic behavior (9.2%), and hallucinations (6.1%). Compared to patients presenting with other forms of cannabis toxicity, those with anxiety were likelier to be younger, ingested edible cannabis, had psychiatric comorbidities, or had a history of polysubstance abuse.Conclusions: Cannabis-induced anxiety occurred in 17.3% of ED patients in this community-based study. Clinicians must be adept in recognizing, evaluating, managing, and counseling these patients following cannabis exposure.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabis-Induced Anxiety Disorder in the Emergency Department

Keung¹,

Leach²,

Kreuser³

et al. 2023

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It has been recently reported that subjects in self-isolation due to COVID-19 tend to use 20% more cannabis compared to those who did not [43]. Moreover, social anxiety has been associated with frequent cannabis use [44] that evokes several neuroadaptations in the ECS [45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endocannabinoid system genes regulation in the effects evoked by social isolation in rats

Girella,

Bartolomeo,

Dainese

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social isolation is a state of lack of social connections, involving the modulation of different molecular signalling cascades and associated with high risk of mental health issues. To investigate if and how gene expression is modulated by social experience at the central level, we analyzed the effects of 5 weeks of social isolation in rats focusing on endocannabinoid system genes transcription in key brain regions involved in emotional control. We observed selective reduction in mRNA levels for fatty acid amide hydrolase (Faah) and cannabinoid receptor type 1 (Cnr1) genes in the amygdala complex and of Cnr1 in the prefrontal cortex of socially isolated rats when compared to controls, and these changes appears to be partially driven by trimethylation of Lysine 27 and acetylation of Lysine 9 at Histone 3. The alterations of Cnr1 transcriptional regulation result also directly correlated with those of oxytocin receptor gene. We here suggest that to counteract the effects of SI, it is of relevance to restore the endocannabinoid system homeostasis via the use of environmental triggers able to revert those epigenetic mechanisms accounting for the alterations observed.

show abstract

“…Unfortunately, cannabis use has been linked to various harms, including increased risk of depression ( Gobbi et al, 2019 ), anxiety ( Stiles-Shields et al, 2021 ), suicidal ideation and attempts ( Gobbi et al, 2019 ), and psychosis ( Hall & Degenhardt, 2008 ). The risks associated with cannabis use may be especially heightened for postsecondary students, as emerging adulthood is recognized as a critical developmental period during which individuals may be particularly susceptible to the consequences of substance use ( Stone et al, 2012 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Cannabis Use: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Affective Impulsivity

Vieira,

Snaychuk,

Milicevic

et al. 2023

Cannabis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Problematic cannabis use is highly prevalent among postsecondary students. Consequently, there is a need to examine risk factors associated with problematic cannabis use in this population. The present study investigated whether emotion dysregulation mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and problematic cannabis use, and whether affective impulsivity (negative and positive urgency) uniquely moderates this relationship. Participants consisted of current cannabis users (N = 586) recruited from five universities across Canada. Participants completed an online survey containing self- report measures of ACEs, emotion dysregulation, negative and positive urgency, and problematic cannabis use. Among the sample of postsecondary students, 36% (n = 213) met the threshold for problematic cannabis use. Moderated-mediation analyses revealed that ACEs were positively associated with emotion dysregulation and problematic cannabis use. There was also a significant indirect effect of emotion dysregulation on the association between ACEs and problematic cannabis use at moderate and high (but not low) levels of negative urgency, and at moderate and high (but not low) levels of positive urgency. The moderated-mediation models remained significant when controlling for other facets of impulsivity. Results suggest that elevated levels of emotion dysregulation and urgency are important proximal risk factors for problematic cannabis use among postsecondary students with a history of ACEs. While ACEs cannot be modified given their occurrence in the past, interventions that aim to build mindfulness and adaptive emotion regulation skills may be beneficial for reducing the likelihood that these students will engage in impulsive behaviors, such as cannabis use, when experiencing emotional distress.

show abstract

A Scoping Review of Associations Between Cannabis Use and Anxiety in Adolescents and Young Adults

Cited by 7 publications

References 82 publications

Cannabis-Induced Anxiety Disorder in the Emergency Department

Cannabis-Induced Anxiety Disorder in the Emergency Department

Endocannabinoid system genes regulation in the effects evoked by social isolation in rats

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Problematic Cannabis Use: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Affective Impulsivity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About