←Safety & Adverse Effects

Study register · detail Prospektive Längsschnittkohorte (NESARC) · Safety & Adverse Effects · 2015

Quality of life and risk of psychiatric disorders among regular users of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis: An analysis of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC).

Cougle et al. ·Journal of Psychiatric Research Impact 3.0

Harm GRADE Low 86 citations

Samplen = 43.093 Pat.

DurationTwo survey waves

ControlNon-regular consumers or non-consumers of…

EndpointPsychiatric disorder…

Blindingn.a.

DesignProspektive Längsschnittkohorte (NESARC)

Key finding

Regular cannabis use prospectively increases the risk of specific psychiatric disorders and reduces mental quality of life.

Summary

NESARC longitudinal study (Wave 1 N=43.093, Wave 2 N=34.653); regular cannabis use (weekly) prospectively predicted the occurrence of panic disorder with agoraphobia and social phobia; cannabis use correlated cross-sectionally with higher rates of psychiatric disorders; no significant effect on physical health.

PopulationAdults from the US general population, regular (weekly) consumers of alcohol, nicotine and/or cannabis; Wave 1 n=43.093, Wave 2 n=34.653

InterventionRegular (weekly) cannabis use (as well as alcohol and nicotine use as comparison groups)

ControlNon-regular consumers or non-consumers of the respective substance

OutcomeRegular cannabis use prospectively predicted the development of bipolar disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia and social phobia, as well as a decline in mental (but not physical) health-related quality of life

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 Harm

Citations / year ★★★★★

Authors

Cougle JR, Hakes JK, Macatee RJ, Chavarria J, Zvolensky MJ.

DOI 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.05.004↗

Design: Prospektive Längsschnittkohorte (NESARC)

Abstract

Research is limited on the effects of regular substance use on mental health-related outcomes. We used a large nationally representative survey to examine current and future quality of life and risk of psychiatric disorders among past-year regular (weekly) users of alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. Data on psychiatric disorders and quality of life from two waves (Wave 1 N = 43,093, Wave 2 N = 34,653) of the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were used to test study aims. In cross-sectional analyses, regular nicotine and cannabis use were associated with higher rates of psychiatric disorder, though regular alcohol use was associated with lower rates of disorders. Prospective analyses found that regular nicotine use predicted onset of anxiety, depressive, and bipolar disorders. Regular alcohol use predicted lower risk of these disorders. Regular cannabis use uniquely predicted the development of bipolar disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, and social phobia. Lastly, regular alcohol use predicted improvements in physical and mental health-related quality of life, whereas nicotine predicted deterioration in these outcomes. Regular cannabis use predicted declines in mental, but not physical health. These data add to the literature on the relations between substance use and mental and physical health and suggest increased risk of mental health problems among regular nicotine and cannabis users and better mental and physical health among regular alcohol users. Examination of mechanisms underlying these relationships is needed.

The impediment to action advances action. — Marcus Aurelius