CANNABIS (BHANG, CHARAS) CONSUMPTION; EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE DISTURBANCES AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN YOUNG ADULTS
Fauzia Naz
The Professional Medical Journal May 1, 2016 DOI: 10.17957/tpmj/16.3272 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Correlational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 400 |
| Population | Young adults aged 20 to 27 in Lahore, comprising 200 routine cannabis users and 200 non-users of any substance, matched on age, education, and socioeconomic status |
| Measures | Cognitive Failure Questionnaire, Emotional Regulation Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Young adults who used cannabis had higher emotional and cognitive disturbances and more depressive symptoms than non-users, with a significant positive relationship between cannabis consumption and these disturbances and symptoms. Cannabis consumption frequency mediated the relationship between emotional and cognitive disturbances and depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
Cannabis or marijuana is an illegal drug that is being used mostly by young adultscan have adverse effects i.e., dependence syndrome, impaired respiratory and cardiovascularfunctions, psychosocial and mental health disorders.
Objective: The present study examinedthe effects of cannabis (including bhang & charas) consumption on emotional and cognitivedisturbances and depressive symptoms in young adults who use cannabis. The researchfurther explored that cannabis consumption frequency will mediate between emotional andcognitive disturbances and depressive symptoms in young adults. Study
Design: Correlationalresearch design. Settings: Lahore city.
Method: Sample included 200 young adults who usedcannabis in routine and 200 young adults who did not consume any kind of substance. Theage range of the sample was between 20 years to 27 years. Snowball sampling technique wasused to recruit sample. The comparison group was matched on age, education and socioeconomicstatus. Cognitive Failure Questionnaire1, Emotional Regulation Scale2 and PatientHealth Questionnaire3 were used as assessment measures.
Results: Results showed thatyoung adults who use cannabis had higher emotional and cognitive disturbances and hadmore depressive symptoms compared to the normal controls. There was a significant positiverelationship and association between cannabis consumption and emotional and cognitivedisturbances and depressive symptoms. Cannabis consumption had mediating relationshipbetween cognitive and emotional disturbances and depressive symptoms. Implications of thestudy along with strengths and limitations of the current study are discussed.