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Updated: May 25, 2025

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
Prenatal Cannabis Use and Depressive Symptoms
Taylor L Pitt1, Amanda A Allshouse, Pilyoung Kim
1University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, and Associated Regional and University Pathologists, Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah; the Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado; the Department of Psychology, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; the University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California; The Ohio State University, Columbus, and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana; the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Columbia University, New York City, New York; and East Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.
Ongoing cannabis use during pregnancy, especially beyond the first trimester, is linked to increased depressive symptoms. Higher levels of cannabis metabolites in early pregnancy also correlate with later depressive symptoms in mothers.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal mental health
- Reproductive toxicology
- Cannabis research
Background:
- Cannabis use during pregnancy is a growing concern.
- Understanding its impact on maternal mental health is crucial.
- Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding cannabis and pregnancy outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and depressive symptoms.
- To determine if ongoing use beyond the first trimester elevates depressive symptoms.
- To explore the relationship between the amount of cannabis used and depressive symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of the nuMoM2b study (n=8,424).
- Cannabis exposure assessed via urine immunoassay for THC-COOH.
- Depressive symptoms measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in the first and third trimesters.
Main Results:
- Any cannabis use was not significantly associated with later depressive symptoms (aOR 1.3, 95% CI, 0.97-1.6).
- Ongoing cannabis exposure beyond the first trimester was associated with increased depressive symptoms (aOR 1.6, 95% CI, 1.2-2.2).
- Higher levels of urine THC-COOH in the first trimester correlated with greater odds of subsequent depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis use solely in the first trimester was not linked to later depressive symptoms.
- Ongoing cannabis use beyond the first trimester is associated with increased depressive symptoms.
- The study design does not allow for definitive conclusions on the directionality of the association.
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