←Depression Risk
Study register · detail Epidemiologische Kohortenstudie (Survival-Analyse) · Depression Risk · 2002

Cannabis use and the risk of Major Depressive Episode. Epidemiological evidence from the United States National Comorbidity Survey.

Chen et al. ·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Impact 2.6
Mixed GRADE Low 133 citations
Samplen = 6.792 Pat.
ControlNever users
EndpointCumulative risk MDE
Blindingn.a.
DesignEpidemiologische Kohortenstudie (Survival-Analyse)
Key finding

Cannabis use is moderately associated with an increased MDE risk, though the strength of the association is at best small.

Summary

National Comorbidity Survey (n=6.792, age 15–45 yrs); cannabis use → increased cumulative risk for Major Depressive Episode (MDE); non-dependent cannabis users had a 1,6-fold higher MDE risk vs. non-users (95%-CI 1,1–2,2) after adjustment for sex, birth cohort, alcohol dependence, and daily smoking.

P
PopulationPersons aged 15–45 years from the U.S. National Comorbidity Survey, n=6.792
I
InterventionCannabis use (various levels of use, incl. non-dependent and dependent use)
C
ControlNever users
O
OutcomeNon-dependent cannabis users had a 1,6-fold increased risk for a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) vs. never users (95%-CI: 1,1–2,2)
Confidence in the evidence
Low

The second of four GRADE levels, the effect estimate is of limited reliability.

Quality profile
Sample size ★★★★★
Blinding —
Effect size Mixed
Citations / year ★★★★★
Authors
Chen CY, Wagner FA, Anthony JC.
DOI 10.1007/s00127-002-0541-z↗
Design: Epidemiologische Kohortenstudie (Survival-Analyse)
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Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>This is an epidemiological study of a possible causal role of Cannabis use in the development of Major Depressive Episode (MDE). Male-female differences in the suspected causal association have also been studied.<h4>Method</h4>Data are from 6,792 National Comorbidity Survey participants aged 15-45 years, assessed via the University of Michigan modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (UM-CIDI). Survival analysis methods were used to estimate cumulative risk of MDE by levels of Cannabis use and to estimate suspected causal associations after adjustment for other influences.<h4>Results</h4>The risk of first MDE was moderately associated with the number of occasions of Cannabis use and with more advanced stages of Cannabis use. Relative to never users, non-dependent Cannabis users had 1.6 times greater risk of MDE (95 % Confidence Interval: 1.1, 2.2), even with statistical adjustment for sex, birth cohorts, alcohol dependence, and history of daily tobacco smoking.<h4>Conclusions</h4>There was male-female variation in the degree of association between stage of Cannabis involvement and MDE, but the strength of the association is modest at best.
Indication
Further studies on Depression Risk
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