Marijuana Use Is Associated with Behavioral Approach and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

Abstract

BackgroundRepeated CB1 binding due to THC results in downregulation of the endocannabinoid system in cortex and limbic regions, perhaps disrupting frontolimbic functioning. This is particularly a concern in young adults who are still undergoing neurodevelopment in frontal and limbic regions. Such disruptions may be linked to increased depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and executive dysfunction, and decreased behavioral approach.ObjectivesHere we examine the influence of young adult marijuana use on anxiety, depressive symptoms, behavioral approach, and executive dysfunction. The influence of alcohol and gender were also assessed.Methods84 participants (42 MJ, 42 controls) aged 18–25 were balanced for gender (39 F). Exclusion criteria included: MRI contraindications, left handed, comorbid Axis-I disorders, major medical or neurologic disorders, prenatal issues, or prenatal alcohol/illicit drug exposure, or excessive other drug use. Participants completed the FrsBE, BIS/BAS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (State), and BDI-II. Multiple regressions were run to predict anxiety, depressive symptoms, behavioral approach, and executive dysfunction from MJ group status, past year alcohol use, gender, and MJ*gender interactions, controlling for cotinine and ecstasy.ResultsMJ group predicted increased depressive symptoms (p =.049). Decreased fun-seeking (p =.04), reward response (p =.01), and BAS total (p =.01) were predicted by MJ group. Gender predicted decreased reward responsiveness in females (p =.049) and decreased BIS in females (p =.03). Female marijuana users had increased anxiety symptoms (p =.04) and increased disinhibition (p =.04). Increased cotinine predicted increased drive (p =.046), reward responsiveness (p =.008) and BAS Total (p =.02). Apathy and Executive Dysfunction were not predicted by any measures. All results had small effect sizes.Conclusions/ImportanceDepressive symptoms were greater in MJ users, while behavioral approach was decreased. Cotinine levels predicted increased behavioral approach. Female MJ users also had greater anxiety and disinhibition. In sum, these findings suggest sub-clinical threshold deficits related to regular marijuana use that are indicative of a need to prevent marijuana use in adolescents and young adults.

Changes in marijuana use symptoms and emotional functioning over 28-days of monitored abstinence in adolescent marijuana users

“…Our BAS findings are similar to work conducted by Wright and colleagues (Wright et al 2016), in which they also found decreased behavioral approach scores in marijuana users ages 18–25. The authors suggest depressive symptoms may underlie decreased BAS scores (vs. impulsivity traits) (McFarland et al 2006), although depression symptoms in the users was not statistically different from controls at the time of measurement in our protocol (~week 3, day 17).…”

Prolonged cannabis withdrawal in young adults with lifetime psychiatric illness

“…Cannabis use may precipitate or hasten the onset of psychotic 9,10 , depressive 11,12 , and anxiety disorders 13 . Cannabis use during adolescence and young adulthood has been associated with earlier onset 14–17 and greater severity of mood symptoms 18–20 . Conversely, comorbid psychiatric illness may increase risk for problem cannabis use.…”

Is the History of Substance Abuse Correlated with Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Co-morbid HIV Infection? An Urban Population Study

“…In the general, non-HIV-infected population, drug abuse is closely correlated with neuropsychiatric disorders (Figure 7B). The literature supports the following MDD is prevalent in cocaine [59–61], marijuana [62] and alcohol abusers [63–66]. BD is significantly associated with alcohol abuse [25,67,68], and nicotine and alcohol dependence is more common with SCZ patients than with the general population [69–72].…”