Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls

Martine Skumlien; Claire Mokrysz; Tom P Freeman; Vincent Valton; Matthew B Wall; Michael Bloomfield; Rachel Lees; Anna Borissova; Kat Petrilli; Manuela Giugliano; Denisa Clisu; Christelle Langley; Barbara J Sahakian; H Valerie Curran; Will Lawn

doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls

Martine Skumlien, Claire Mokrysz, Tom P Freeman, Vincent Valton, Matthew B Wall, Michael Bloomfield, Rachel Lees, Anna Borissova, Kat Petrilli, Manuela Giugliano, Denisa Clisu, Christelle Langley, Barbara J Sahakian, H Valerie Curran, Will Lawn

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use may be linked with anhedonia and apathy. However, previous studies have shown mixed results, and few have examined the association between cannabis use and specific reward sub-processes. Adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to harmful effects of cannabis. This study investigated (1) the association between non-acute cannabis use and apathy, anhedonia, pleasure, and effort-based decision-making for reward; and (2) whether these relationships were moderated by age group.

METHODS: We used data from the "CannTeen" study. Participants were 274 adult (26-29 years) and adolescent (16-17 years) cannabis users (1-7 d/wk use in the past 3 months) and gender- and age-matched controls. Anhedonia was measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (n = 274), and apathy was measured with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (n = 215). Effort-based decision-making for reward was measured with the Physical Effort task (n = 139), and subjective wanting and liking of rewards was measured with the novel Real Reward Pleasure task (n = 137).

RESULTS: Controls had higher levels of anhedonia than cannabis users (F1,258 = 5.35, P = .02, η p2 = .02). There were no other significant effects of user-group and no significant user-group*age-group interactions. Null findings were supported by post hoc Bayesian analyses.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cannabis use at a frequency of 3 to 4 d/wk is not associated with apathy, effort-based decision-making for reward, reward wanting, or reward liking in adults or adolescents. Cannabis users had lower anhedonia than controls, albeit at a small effect size. These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that non-acute cannabis use is associated with amotivation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	9-19
Number of pages	11
Journal	International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume	26
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyac056
Publication status	Published - 19 Jan 2023

Keywords

Humans
Adult
Adolescent
Anhedonia
Cannabis
Decision Making
Apathy
Pleasure
Bayes Theorem
Motivation
Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
Hallucinogens/pharmacology
Reward

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10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

Cite this

Skumlien, M., Mokrysz, C., Freeman, T. P., Valton, V., Wall, M. B., Bloomfield, M., Lees, R., Borissova, A., Petrilli, K., Giugliano, M., Clisu, D., Langley, C., Sahakian, B. J., Curran, H. V., & Lawn, W. (2023). Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology , 26(1), 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

@article{265029dcf76641dba77675f4ca65421e,

title = "Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Cannabis use may be linked with anhedonia and apathy. However, previous studies have shown mixed results, and few have examined the association between cannabis use and specific reward sub-processes. Adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to harmful effects of cannabis. This study investigated (1) the association between non-acute cannabis use and apathy, anhedonia, pleasure, and effort-based decision-making for reward; and (2) whether these relationships were moderated by age group.METHODS: We used data from the {"}CannTeen{"} study. Participants were 274 adult (26-29 years) and adolescent (16-17 years) cannabis users (1-7 d/wk use in the past 3 months) and gender- and age-matched controls. Anhedonia was measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (n = 274), and apathy was measured with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (n = 215). Effort-based decision-making for reward was measured with the Physical Effort task (n = 139), and subjective wanting and liking of rewards was measured with the novel Real Reward Pleasure task (n = 137).RESULTS: Controls had higher levels of anhedonia than cannabis users (F1,258 = 5.35, P = .02, η p2 = .02). There were no other significant effects of user-group and no significant user-group*age-group interactions. Null findings were supported by post hoc Bayesian analyses.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cannabis use at a frequency of 3 to 4 d/wk is not associated with apathy, effort-based decision-making for reward, reward wanting, or reward liking in adults or adolescents. Cannabis users had lower anhedonia than controls, albeit at a small effect size. These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that non-acute cannabis use is associated with amotivation.",

keywords = "Humans, Adult, Adolescent, Anhedonia, Cannabis, Decision Making, Apathy, Pleasure, Bayes Theorem, Motivation, Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology, Hallucinogens/pharmacology, Reward",

author = "Martine Skumlien and Claire Mokrysz and Freeman, {Tom P} and Vincent Valton and Wall, {Matthew B} and Michael Bloomfield and Rachel Lees and Anna Borissova and Kat Petrilli and Manuela Giugliano and Denisa Clisu and Christelle Langley and Sahakian, {Barbara J} and Curran, {H Valerie} and Will Lawn",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1093/ijnp/pyac056",

language = "English",

volume = "26",

pages = "9--19",

journal = "International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology ",

issn = "1461-1457",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "1",

}

Skumlien, M, Mokrysz, C, Freeman, TP, Valton, V, Wall, MB, Bloomfield, M, Lees, R, Borissova, A, Petrilli, K, Giugliano, M, Clisu, D, Langley, C, Sahakian, BJ, Curran, HV & Lawn, W 2023, 'Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls', International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology , vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 9-19. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

TY - JOUR

T1 - Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls

AU - Skumlien, Martine

AU - Mokrysz, Claire

AU - Freeman, Tom P

AU - Valton, Vincent

AU - Wall, Matthew B

AU - Bloomfield, Michael

AU - Lees, Rachel

AU - Borissova, Anna

AU - Petrilli, Kat

AU - Giugliano, Manuela

AU - Clisu, Denisa

AU - Langley, Christelle

AU - Sahakian, Barbara J

AU - Curran, H Valerie

AU - Lawn, Will

N1 - © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of CINP.

PY - 2023/1/19

Y1 - 2023/1/19

N2 - BACKGROUND: Cannabis use may be linked with anhedonia and apathy. However, previous studies have shown mixed results, and few have examined the association between cannabis use and specific reward sub-processes. Adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to harmful effects of cannabis. This study investigated (1) the association between non-acute cannabis use and apathy, anhedonia, pleasure, and effort-based decision-making for reward; and (2) whether these relationships were moderated by age group.METHODS: We used data from the "CannTeen" study. Participants were 274 adult (26-29 years) and adolescent (16-17 years) cannabis users (1-7 d/wk use in the past 3 months) and gender- and age-matched controls. Anhedonia was measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (n = 274), and apathy was measured with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (n = 215). Effort-based decision-making for reward was measured with the Physical Effort task (n = 139), and subjective wanting and liking of rewards was measured with the novel Real Reward Pleasure task (n = 137).RESULTS: Controls had higher levels of anhedonia than cannabis users (F1,258 = 5.35, P = .02, η p2 = .02). There were no other significant effects of user-group and no significant user-group*age-group interactions. Null findings were supported by post hoc Bayesian analyses.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cannabis use at a frequency of 3 to 4 d/wk is not associated with apathy, effort-based decision-making for reward, reward wanting, or reward liking in adults or adolescents. Cannabis users had lower anhedonia than controls, albeit at a small effect size. These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that non-acute cannabis use is associated with amotivation.

AB - BACKGROUND: Cannabis use may be linked with anhedonia and apathy. However, previous studies have shown mixed results, and few have examined the association between cannabis use and specific reward sub-processes. Adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to harmful effects of cannabis. This study investigated (1) the association between non-acute cannabis use and apathy, anhedonia, pleasure, and effort-based decision-making for reward; and (2) whether these relationships were moderated by age group.METHODS: We used data from the "CannTeen" study. Participants were 274 adult (26-29 years) and adolescent (16-17 years) cannabis users (1-7 d/wk use in the past 3 months) and gender- and age-matched controls. Anhedonia was measured with the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (n = 274), and apathy was measured with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (n = 215). Effort-based decision-making for reward was measured with the Physical Effort task (n = 139), and subjective wanting and liking of rewards was measured with the novel Real Reward Pleasure task (n = 137).RESULTS: Controls had higher levels of anhedonia than cannabis users (F1,258 = 5.35, P = .02, η p2 = .02). There were no other significant effects of user-group and no significant user-group*age-group interactions. Null findings were supported by post hoc Bayesian analyses.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that cannabis use at a frequency of 3 to 4 d/wk is not associated with apathy, effort-based decision-making for reward, reward wanting, or reward liking in adults or adolescents. Cannabis users had lower anhedonia than controls, albeit at a small effect size. These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that non-acute cannabis use is associated with amotivation.

KW - Humans

KW - Adult

KW - Adolescent

KW - Anhedonia

KW - Cannabis

KW - Decision Making

KW - Apathy

KW - Pleasure

KW - Bayes Theorem

KW - Motivation

KW - Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/pharmacology

KW - Hallucinogens/pharmacology

KW - Reward

U2 - 10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

DO - 10.1093/ijnp/pyac056

M3 - Article

C2 - 35999024

SN - 1461-1457

VL - 26

SP - 9

EP - 19

JO - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

JF - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

IS - 1

ER -

Anhedonia, Apathy, Pleasure, and Effort-Based Decision-Making in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls

Abstract

Keywords

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