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Gender differences in cannabis use disorder symptoms: A network analysis
Emese Kroon1, Alessandra Mansueto2, Lauren Kuhns1
1Neuroscience of Addiction (NofA) Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; ADAPT-laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|December 24, 2022
Summary
Cannabis use disorder symptom networks did not differ by gender, but smoking influenced withdrawal. Comorbidities like mood and anxiety disorders showed gender-specific associations with cannabis use disorder symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Cannabis use disorder (CUD) research is expanding, yet gender differences in symptomology remain understudied.
- Focus is shifting towards symptom interactions for understanding addiction etiology, moving beyond clinical diagnoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in the cannabis use disorder symptom network.
- To explore the interactions between CUD symptoms and their relationship with other factors like cigarette use and comorbidities.
Main Methods:
- Utilized online questionnaires for 1257 weekly cannabis users (745 men, 512 women) assessing DSM-5 CUD symptoms.
- Employed Ising model estimation and network comparison tests to analyze CUD symptom networks and identify gender differences.
Main Results:
- While 6 out of 11 CUD symptoms showed gender prevalence differences, the overall symptom networks were similar between men and women.
- Cigarette use was linked to the network primarily through withdrawal symptoms.
- Gender differences were observed in the network associations between mood/anxiety disorders and CUD symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Network models are valuable for understanding CUD, revealing how symptom interactions, like smoking's effect on withdrawal, influence the disorder.
- Gender-specific roles of comorbidities in the CUD network suggest tailored treatment approaches may be beneficial.
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