RESULTS Although causality is unclear , heavy and dependent cannabis use is consistently associated with a high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and learning and memory impairments that seem to recover after a period of abstinence .
Evidence regarding other cognitive domains and neurological consequences including cerebrovascular events is limited and inconsistent .
Abstinence after treatment is only achieved in a minority of cases ; treatment targeted at reduction in use appears have some success .
Potential moderators of the impact of CUD on the brain include age of onset , heaviness of use , CUD severity , the ratio of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol to cannabidiol , and severity of comorbid disorders .
Current evidence of long-term effects of daily cannabis use and cannabis use disorder on brain-related outcomes is suggestive rather than conclusive but use is associated with psychiatric morbidity and with cognitive impairments that recover after a period of abstinence
AIMS To summarize and evaluate our knowledge of the relationship between heavy cannabis use , Cannabis Use Disorder ( CUD ) , and the brain .
Predicting the transition from frequent cannabis use to cannabis dependence: a three-year prospective study.
BACKGROUND Frequent cannabis users are at high risk of dependence , still most ( near ) daily users are not dependent . It is unknown why some frequent users develop dependence , whereas others do not . This study aims to identify predictors of first-incidence DSM-IV cannabis dependence in frequent cannabis users . METHODS A prospect i ve cohort of frequent cannabis users ( aged 18 - 30 , n=600 ) with baseline and two follow-up assessment s ( 18 and 36 months ) was used . Only participants without lifetime diagnosis of DSM-IV cannabis dependence at baseline ( n=269 ) were selected . Incidence of DSM-IV cannabis dependence was established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 . Variables assessed as potential predictors of the development of cannabis dependence included sociodemographic factors , cannabis use variables ( e.g. , motives , consumption habits , cannabis exposure ) , vulnerability factors ( e.g. , childhood adversity , family history of mental disorders or substance use problems , personality , mental disorders ) , and stress factors ( e.g. , life events , social support ) . RESULTS Three-year cumulative incidence of cannabis dependence was 37.2 % ( 95 % CI=30.7 - 43.8 % ) . Independent predictors of the first incidence of cannabis dependence included : living alone , coping motives for cannabis use , number and type of recent negative life events ( major financial problems ) , and number and type of cannabis use disorder symptoms ( impaired control over use ) . Cannabis exposure variables and stable vulnerability factors did not independently predict first incidence of cannabis dependence . CONCLUSIONS In a high risk population of young adult frequent cannabis users , current problems are more important predictors of first incidence cannabis dependence than the level and type of cannabis exposure and stable vulnerability factors
RESULTS Although causality is unclear , heavy and dependent cannabis use is consistently associated with a high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders and learning and memory impairments that seem to recover after a period of abstinence .
Evidence regarding other cognitive domains and neurological consequences including cerebrovascular events is limited and inconsistent .
Abstinence after treatment is only achieved in a minority of cases ; treatment targeted at reduction in use appears have some success .
Potential moderators of the impact of CUD on the brain include age of onset , heaviness of use , CUD severity , the ratio of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol to cannabidiol , and severity of comorbid disorders .
Current evidence of long-term effects of daily cannabis use and cannabis use disorder on brain-related outcomes is suggestive rather than conclusive but use is associated with psychiatric morbidity and with cognitive impairments that recover after a period of abstinence
AIMS To summarize and evaluate our knowledge of the relationship between heavy cannabis use , Cannabis Use Disorder ( CUD ) , and the brain .