Year: 2010
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Adolescent developments in limbic structures and the endogenous cannabinoid system suggest that teenagers may be more vulnerable to the negative consequences of marijuana (MJ) use.This study examined the relationships between amygdala volume and mood symptoms in teenaged chronic MJ users.Participants were 35 MJ users and 47 controls aged 16-19 years.Extensive exclusions included psychiatric or neurologic disorders, including mood and anxiety disorders.Substance use, mood (anxiety/depression) symptoms and brain scans were collected after 28 days of abstinence.Reliable raters (ICCs>.85)manually traced amygdalar and intracranial (ICV) volumes on high-resolution MRIs.Female MJ users had larger right amygdala volumes and more mood symptoms than all males and female controls, after covarying ICV, alcohol, nicotine and other substance use.For female controls and males, worse mood was linked to smaller right amygdala volume, whereas increasing mood problems was associated with bigger right amygdalas in female MJ users.Gender interactions may reflect MJrelated interruptions to sex-specific neuromaturation.Subtle neurodevelopmental amygdala abnormalities may underlie unique vulnerabilities to sub-diagnostic depression and anxiety in teenage female MJ users.Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the extent to which MJ impacts regional brain changes and the emergence of internalizing psychopathology.
Author: Timothy McQueeny
Institution: University of Cincinnati
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2197234896