Abstract

Given the widespread use of cannabis, increasing recognition of the potential health effects of this drug and a growing recognition of cannabis dependence as a distinct clinical entity, this resubmission of a previously reviewed application seeks funding to conduct a genetically informative research study of the assessment of cannabis use disorders, stages of development in and escalation of cannabis and the development of cannabis use disorders, and the mental health correlates of cannabis use, including escalation to the use of other drugs. The project will interview a sample of 6,600 young adult Australian twins using a structured interview assessing lifetime history of cannabis and other drug use and use disorders, and related aspects of substance use and mental health.
Specific aims are:
AIM 1 : To examine the links (genetic or environmental) between early cannabis use and escalation both to the use of other drugs (cocaine, amphetamines, heroin and other opioids, sedatives, hallucinogens, ecstasy) and to drug abuse/ dependence.
AIM 2 : To assess the psychometric properties of an assessment of cannabis use disorders within the context of a genetically informative research design; and to examine the extent to which early onset cannabis use may be differentially associated with specific components of abuse/ dependence via genetic versus environmental mechanisms.
AIM 3 : To examine whether apparent links between early cannabis use and subsequent illicit drug use and abuse/ dependence can be explained by hypothesized social factors including exposure opportunity and the nature of peer affiliations at the time of initiation to cannabis use (reported retrospectively).
AIM 4 : To explore the links (genetic or environmental) between cannabis use and dependence and other measures of common mental health problems (major depressive disorder, persistent suicidal ideation, suicide attempt) and, in particular, to examine the extent to which continued or escalating cannabis use may exacerbate pre-existing mental health problems.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA018267-03
Application #
7280363
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-M (09))
Program Officer
Weinberg, Naimah Z
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2007-09-01
Budget End
2008-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$464,068
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Washington University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130

  Publications

Davis, Christal N; Slutske, Wendy S; Martin, Nicholas G et al. (2018) Genetic and environmental influences on gambling disorder liability: a replication and combined analysis of two twin studies. Psychol Med :1-8
Maciejewski, Dominique F; Renteria, Miguel E; Abdellaoui, Abdel et al. (2017) The Association of Genetic Predisposition to Depressive Symptoms with Non-suicidal and Suicidal Self-Injuries. Behav Genet 47:3-10
Agrawal, Arpana; Nelson, Elliot C; Bucholz, Kathleen K et al. (2017) Major depressive disorder, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and cannabis involvement in discordant twins: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry 4:706-714
Deutsch, Arielle R; Slutske, Wendy S; Lynskey, Michael T et al. (2017) From alcohol initiation to tolerance to problems: Discordant twin modeling of a developmental process. Dev Psychopathol 29:845-861
Smolkina, M; Morley, K I; Rijsdijk, F et al. (2017) Cannabis and Depression: A Twin Model Approach to Co-morbidity. Behav Genet 47:394-404
Richmond-Rakerd, Leah S; Slutske, Wendy S; Lynskey, Michael T et al. (2016) Age at first use and later substance use disorder: Shared genetic and environmental pathways for nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis. J Abnorm Psychol 125:946-959
Hines, Lindsey A; Morley, Katherine I; Strang, John et al. (2016) Onset of opportunity to use cannabis and progression from opportunity to dependence: Are influences consistent across transitions? Drug Alcohol Depend 160:57-64
Few, Lauren R; Miller, Joshua D; Grant, Julia D et al. (2016) Trait-based assessment of borderline personality disorder using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory: Phenotypic and genetic support. Psychol Assess 28:39-50
Few, Lauren R; Grant, Julia D; Nelson, Elliot C et al. (2016) Cannabis Involvement and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Discordant Twin Approach. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 77:873-880
Grant, J D; Lynskey, M T; Madden, P A F et al. (2015) The role of conduct disorder in the relationship between alcohol, nicotine and cannabis use disorders. Psychol Med 45:3505-15

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