Cannabis and anxiety: a critical review of the evidence

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cannabis and anxiety

T2 - a critical review of the evidence

AU - Crippa, Jose Alexandre

AU - Zuardi, Antonio Waldo

AU - Martin-Santos, Rocio

AU - Bhattacharyya, Sagnik

AU - Atakan, Zerrin

AU - McGuire, Philip

AU - Fusar-Poli, Paolo

PY - 2009/10

Y1 - 2009/10

N2 - Background Anxiety reactions and panic attacks are the acute symptoms most frequently associated with cannabis use. Understanding the relationship between cannabis and anxiety may clarify the mechanism of action of cannabis and the pathophysiology of anxiety. Aims of the present study were to review the nature of the relationship between cannabis use and anxiety, as well as the possible clinical, diagnostic and causal implications.Method Systematic review of the Medline, PsycLIT and EMBASE literature.Results Frequent cannabis users consistently have a high prevalence of anxiety disorders and patients with anxiety disorders have relatively high rates of cannabis use. However, it is unclear if cannabis use increases the risk of developing long-lasting anxiety disorders. Many hypotheses have been proposed in an attempt to explain these relationships, including neurobiological, environmental and social influences.Conclusions The precise relationship between cannabis use and anxiety has yet to be established. Research is needed to fully clarify the mechanisms of such the association.

AB - Background Anxiety reactions and panic attacks are the acute symptoms most frequently associated with cannabis use. Understanding the relationship between cannabis and anxiety may clarify the mechanism of action of cannabis and the pathophysiology of anxiety. Aims of the present study were to review the nature of the relationship between cannabis use and anxiety, as well as the possible clinical, diagnostic and causal implications.Method Systematic review of the Medline, PsycLIT and EMBASE literature.Results Frequent cannabis users consistently have a high prevalence of anxiety disorders and patients with anxiety disorders have relatively high rates of cannabis use. However, it is unclear if cannabis use increases the risk of developing long-lasting anxiety disorders. Many hypotheses have been proposed in an attempt to explain these relationships, including neurobiological, environmental and social influences.Conclusions The precise relationship between cannabis use and anxiety has yet to be established. Research is needed to fully clarify the mechanisms of such the association.

U2 - 10.1002/hup.1048

DO - 10.1002/hup.1048

M3 - Literature review

VL - 24

SP - 515

EP - 523

JO - Human Psychopharmacology : Clinical and Experimental

JF - Human Psychopharmacology : Clinical and Experimental

IS - 7

ER -