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. 2001 Dec;158(12):2033-7.
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.158.12.2033.

Cannabis abuse as a risk factor for depressive symptoms

G B Bovasso  1
Affiliations

Cannabis abuse as a risk factor for depressive symptoms

G B Bovasso. Am J Psychiatry. 2001 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to estimate the degree to which cannabis abuse is a risk factor for depressive symptoms rather than an effort to self-medicate depression.

Method: Participants (N=1,920) in the 1980 Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) study who were reassessed between 1994 and 1996 as part of a follow-up study provided the data. The analysis focused on two cohorts: those who reported no depressive symptoms at baseline (N=849) and those with no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline (N=1,837). Symptoms of depression, cannabis abuse, and other psychiatric disorders were assessed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule.

Results: In participants with no baseline depressive symptoms, those with a diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline were four times more likely than those with no cannabis abuse diagnosis to have depressive symptoms at the follow-up assessment, after adjusting for age, gender, antisocial symptoms, and other baseline covariates. In particular, these participants were more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation and anhedonia during the follow-up period. Among the participants who had no diagnosis of cannabis abuse at baseline, depressive symptoms at baseline failed to significantly predict cannabis abuse at the follow-up assessment.

Conclusions: Further research is needed to identify characteristics of individuals who abuse cannabis that account for their higher risk of depression to estimate the degree of impairment resulting from their depression.

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Comment in

  • Problems with odds ratios.
    Epstein DH. Epstein DH. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Jan;160(1):190-1; author reply 191. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.1.190-a. Am J Psychiatry. 2003. PMID: 12505837 No abstract available.
  • Problems with odds ratios.
    Kuo WH. Kuo WH. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Jan;160(1):191; author reply 191. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.160.1.191. Am J Psychiatry. 2003. PMID: 12505840 No abstract available.

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