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Kim SW, Dodd S, Berk L, Kulkarni J, de Castella A, Fitzgerald PB, Kim JM, Yoon JS, Berk M. Impact of Cannabis Use on Long-Term Remission in Bipolar I and Schizoaffective Disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2015; 12. [PMID: 26207128 PMCID: PMC4504917 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2015.12.3.349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of regular cannabis use on long-term remission of mood symptoms in bipolar spectrum disorders. METHODS The 24-month prospective observational study included patients (n=239) with bipolar I disorder and schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. Participants were classified as regular cannabis users (three times or more per week) or non-users. The primary outcome measure was the achievement of remission on the evaluations during the 24 months. RESULTS Of the 234 participants for whom data was available, 25 (10.7%) were regular cannabis users, and the group comprised significantly more males than females. In the total population, cannabis use was significantly associated with decreased likelihood of remission during the 24-month follow-up period. Subgroup analyses showed that cannabis use was significantly associated with lower remission rates on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in females (n=139) and patients prescribed mood stabilizers alone (n=151), whereas in males (n=95) and patients prescribed olanzapine and/or a mood stabilizer (n=83), cannabis use was significantly associated with lower remission rates on the Young Mania Rating Scale. Remission rates were lowest in the concurrent cannabis and tobacco smoking group (n=22) followed by the tobacco smoking only group (n=97), and the non-smoker group (n=116). The post-hoc analysis revealed that all remission rates were significantly lower in the concurrent cannabis and the tobacco smoking group compared to the non-smoker group. CONCLUSION Cannabis use negatively affects the long-term clinical outcome in patients with bipolar spectrum disorders. A comprehensive assessment and integrated management of cannabis use are required to achieve better treatment outcomes for bipolar spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Wan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seetal Dodd
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lesley Berk
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, School of Psychology, Faculty of Health Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Jayashri Kulkarni
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anthony de Castella
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul B. Fitzgerald
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jae-Min Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Sang Yoon
- Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Michael Berk
- IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia
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Kvitland LR, Melle I, Aminoff SR, Demmo C, Lagerberg TV, Andreassen OA, Ringen PA. Continued cannabis use at one year follow up is associated with elevated mood and lower global functioning in bipolar I disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2015; 15:11. [PMID: 25651990 PMCID: PMC4323143 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0389-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited knowledge about how environmental factors affect the course of bipolar disorder (BD). Cannabis has been proposed as a potential risk factor for poorer course of illness, but the role of cannabis use has not been studied in a first treatment BD I sample. METHODS The present study examines the associations between course of illness in first treatment BD I and continued cannabis use, from baseline to one year follow up. Patients (N = 62) with first treatment DSM-IV BD I were included as part of the Thematically Organized Psychosis study (TOP), and completed interviews and self-report questionnaires at both baseline and follow up. Cannabis use within the last six months at baseline and use between baseline and follow up ("continued use") was recorded. RESULTS After controlling for confounders, continued cannabis use was significantly associated with elevated mood (YMRS) and inferior global functioning (GAF-F) at follow up. Elevated mood mediated the effect of cannabis use on global functioning. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that cannabis use has clinical implications for the early course of BD by increasing mood level. More focus on reducing cannabis use in clinical settings seems to be useful for improving outcome in early phase of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Roestad Kvitland
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ingrid Melle
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Sofie Ragnhild Aminoff
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway. .,Division of Mental Health Services, Department of Specialized Inpatient Treatment, Akershus University Hospital, Akershus, Norway.
| | - Christine Demmo
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Trine Vik Lagerberg
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ole Andreas Andreassen
- NORMENT, KG Jebsen Center for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Building 49, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
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Abstract
Bipolar disorder is a common, complex genetic disorder, but the mode of transmission remains to be discovered. Many researchers assume that common genomic variants carry some risk for manifesting the disease. The research community has celebrated the first genome-wide significant associations between common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and bipolar disorder. Currently, attempts are under way to translate these findings into clinical practice, genetic counseling, and predictive testing. However, some experts remain cautious. After all, common variants explain only a very small percentage of the genetic risk, and functional consequences of the discovered SNPs are inconclusive. Furthermore, the associated SNPs are not disease specific, and the majority of individuals with a "risk" allele are healthy. On the other hand, population-based genome-wide studies in psychiatric disorders have rediscovered rare structural variants and mutations in genes, which were previously known to cause genetic syndromes and monogenic Mendelian disorders. In many Mendelian syndromes, psychiatric symptoms are prevalent. Although these conditions do not fit the classic description of any specific psychiatric disorder, they often show nonspecific psychiatric symptoms that cross diagnostic boundaries, including intellectual disability, behavioral abnormalities, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, attention deficit, impulse control deficit, and psychosis. Although testing for chromosomal disorders and monogenic Mendelian disorders is well established, testing for common variants is still controversial. The standard concept of genetic testing includes at least three broad criteria that need to be fulfilled before new genetic tests should be introduced: analytical validity, clinical validity, and clinical utility. These criteria are currently not fulfilled for common genomic variants in psychiatric disorders. Further work is clearly needed before genetic testing for common variants in psychiatric disorders should be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Kerner
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Abstract
Severe mental illness (SMI) is a broad category that includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. Both genetic disposition and environmental exposures play important roles in the development of SMI. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the roles of genetic and environmental factors depend on each other. Gene-environment interactions may underlie the paradox of strong environmental factors for highly heritable disorders, the low estimates of shared environmental influences in twin studies of SMI, and the heritability gap between twin and molecular heritability estimates. Sons and daughters of parents with SMI are more vulnerable to the effects of prenatal and postnatal environmental exposures, suggesting that the expression of genetic liability depends on environment. In the last decade, gene-environment interactions involving specific molecular variants in candidate genes have been identified. Replicated findings include an interaction between a polymorphism in the AKT1 gene and cannabis use in the development of psychosis and an interaction between the length polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene and childhood maltreatment in the development of persistent depressive disorder. Bipolar disorder has been underinvestigated, with only a single study showing an interaction between a functional polymorphism in the BDNF gene and stressful life events triggering bipolar depressive episodes. The first systematic search for gene-environment interactions has found that a polymorphism in CTNNA3 may sensitize the developing brain to the pathogenic effect of cytomegalovirus in utero, leading to schizophrenia in adulthood. Strategies for genome-wide investigations will likely include coordination between epidemiological and genetic research efforts, systematic assessment of multiple environmental factors in large samples, and prioritization of genetic variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Uher
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS , Canada ; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS , Canada ; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London , London , UK
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