” When we take distinctions in gender, age, socioeconomics, and household history, and more into account, we see that cannabis use condition is connected with nearly two times the threat of establishing depression and a two-to-three-times higher threat of developing bipolar affective disorder in both males and ladies,” says Oskar Hougaard Jefsen, a PhD student from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. He is the lead author of the study, which has simply been released in the clinical journal JAMA Psychiatry.
” As far as we know, weve performed the worlds largest study of the link in between cannabis usage condition and affective conditions,” states Oskar Hougaard Jefsen, a PhD student from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. He is the first author of the study, which consists of register data from more than 6 million Danes. Credit: Simon Byrial Fischel
According to the Danish Health Authority, one in 3 Danes under the age of 25 has smoked cannabis The brand-new research study only focuses on individuals with a substantial consumption of cannabis such that they have actually been registered with a compound usage condition– e.g. since they have been in contact with the compound abuse treatment system or other parts of the health care system.
More countries are legislating marijuana.
Several research studies have actually supported the hypothesis that substantial cannabis usage is not safe to human mental health. Previous research studies recommend that marijuana usage disorder can increase the threat of developing schizophrenia. Until now, the danger of other psychological conditions has actually been sparsely studied.
In this study, scientists from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen have actually analyzed information from Danish nationwide signs up such as the National Patient Register, the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, and the Danish Register of Pharmaceutical Sales.
” The study is the largest of its kind worldwide, and our findings suggest that marijuana usage disorder is likewise connected with an increased threat of establishing depression and bipolar illness. When it comes to utilizing cannabis, the outcomes recommend caution. This applies to people with an increased danger of establishing mental disorder, and to political leaders and other decision-makers who are discussing the possibilities of legislating marijuana,” states Oskar Hougaard Jefsen.
An increasing variety of nations are legalizing the production and sale of marijuana for leisure and medicinal use. Considering that 2018, family doctors in Denmark have actually been able to write prescriptions for drugs based on marijuana for patients as part of a trial plan that likewise provides companies and individuals the chance to produce cannabis for industrial or medicinal use.
When it comes to legalizing and managing marijuana usage, Oskar Hougaard Jefsen thinks that the outcomes of the research study must be thought about.
” We ought to carry out more research study into whether there are people for whom marijuana is particularly hazardous. This might reinforce preventative steps,” he states, including that there is a specific need for more knowledge about the dose-dependent effects of marijuana use on the brain, cognition, and habits, and for identifying danger factors for the transition from cannabis usage disorder to psychiatric disorders.
No definitive proof
Oskar Hougaard Jefsen explains that, despite the indications in the research study, it does not offer definitive evidence that cannabis causes these mental illness.
For example, he can not rule out that undiagnosed depression or bipolar affective disorder has led a few of the people in the register-based research study to establish cannabis use disorder– i.e. the disease resulted in the abuse and not the other method around.
” But when we see an increased illness danger– even 10 years after the marijuana use condition has actually been signed up– I dont think that self-medication can be the only description. It appears not likely that many people would go undiagnosed for so long,” he states.
” Danish register information truly offers us a special chance to consider a lot of the crucial factors that might affect the outcomes. However, conclusive evidence would need a randomized controlled trial in which a group of individuals would have to smoke large amounts of marijuana to see if this increased their risk of developing mental disorder in the long term, and such a study would, naturally, be unethical,” he says.
The research results– more info
The study is a register-based epidemiological friend research study of 6,651,765 individuals born in Denmark before 2006, and who lived in Denmark in between 1995 and 2021. An equivalent number of women and males appear in the study.
The partners are Associate Professor Carsten Hjorthøj, Senior Researcher Annette Erlangsen and Clinical Professor Merete Nordentoft– all three from the University of Copenhagen.
” As far as we understand, weve conducted the worlds biggest research study of the link between marijuana use disorder and affective disorders,” says Oskar Hougaard Jefsen, a PhD trainee from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University. Previous research studies suggest that marijuana use disorder can increase the threat of establishing schizophrenia.” The research study is the biggest of its kind in the world, and our findings recommend that cannabis use disorder is likewise associated with an increased threat of developing anxiety and bipolar condition. The results advise care when it comes to utilizing marijuana. This applies to individuals with an increased threat of establishing psychological health problem, and to politicians and other decision-makers who are talking about the possibilities of legislating marijuana,” states Oskar Hougaard Jefsen.
A Danish research study involving over six million individuals found that marijuana usage condition substantially increases the danger of establishing anxiety and bipolar affective disorder. In spite of the link, scientists worry that the study doesnt conclusively show that cannabis use triggers these mental health conditions, recommending caution in usage and factor to consider in legalization arguments.
A brand-new study recommends that cannabis usage condition causes an increased danger of establishing bipolar illness and depression.
Marijuana is one of the worlds most typically utilized prohibited drugs. New Danish research suggests that marijuana use disorder is more highly related to the advancement of mental disorders than formerly presumed.
The study includes register information from more than 6 million Danes and its findings show that cannabis usage condition increases the threat of both psychotic and non-psychotic depression and bipolar condition.
Referral: “Cannabis Use Disorder and Subsequent Risk of Nonpsychotic and psychotic Unipolar Depression and Bipolar Disorder” by Oskar Hougaard Jefsen, MD; Annette Erlangsen, PhD; Merete Nordentoft, DMSc and Carsten Hjorthøj, PhD, 24 May 2023, JAMA Psychiatry.DOI: 10.1001/ jamapsychiatry.2023.1256.