Cannabis use disorder linked to greater apathy in people living with HIV
Among 311 adults with HIV, current cannabis use disorder was associated with higher apathy scores compared to cannabis users without CUD, though the association was no longer significant after accounting for depression.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Current CUD was associated with greater apathy (beta = 2.13, p = 0.018) compared to cannabis users without CUD history. The association became nonsignificant after adjusting for depressive symptoms, suggesting overlap between apathy and depression. Adolescent-onset CUD was not linked to greater apathy than adult-onset.
Key Numbers
311 adults with HIV studied. CUD-apathy association: beta = 2.13 (95% CI: 0.37-3.90, p = 0.018). Alcohol use correlated with apathy: r = 0.19 (p = 0.001). Association became nonsignificant after depression adjustment.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 311 adult people with HIV. Apathy was measured using the Apathy Evaluation Scale-Self (AES-S). CUD history was categorized as current, past, none, or no cannabis use. Analyses tested robustness to adjustment for depression and alcohol use.
Why This Research Matters
Apathy is common in people with HIV and is associated with poor adherence to treatment. Identifying modifiable risk factors like substance use disorders could help clinicians address apathy and improve HIV outcomes.
The Bigger Picture
The stereotype that cannabis makes people apathetic is common but poorly supported by rigorous data. This study finds the link exists specifically with cannabis use disorder (not casual use) and appears intertwined with depression, complicating simple narratives about cannabis and motivation.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot determine whether CUD causes apathy or vice versa. The association disappeared when controlling for depression, raising questions about whether apathy and depression are being measured as overlapping constructs. Only people with HIV were studied.
Questions This Raises
- ?Is CUD-related apathy a manifestation of depression rather than a direct cannabis effect?
- ?Would treating CUD improve apathy in people with HIV?
- ?Do these findings extend to HIV-negative populations?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CUD-apathy link disappeared after controlling for depression
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate-sized cross-sectional study with validated measures, but the design cannot establish causation and the sample is specific to people with HIV.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024 in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
- Original Title:
- Association between cannabis use disorder and greater apathy in adults with HIV.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 261, 111354 (2024)
- Authors:
- Britton, Mark K(2), DeFelice, Jason, Porges, Eric C(4), Cohen, Ronald, Li, Yancheng, Wang, Yan, Ibañez, Gladys E, Somboonwit, Charurut, Cook, Robert L
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05161
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis make people apathetic?
This study found that cannabis use disorder (not casual use) was associated with greater apathy in people with HIV. However, the association was no longer significant after accounting for depressive symptoms, suggesting the picture is more nuanced than simple cause and effect.
Did it matter when cannabis use started?
No. Adolescent-onset cannabis use disorder was not associated with greater apathy compared to adult-onset, contrary to what some might expect.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05161APA
Britton, Mark K; DeFelice, Jason; Porges, Eric C; Cohen, Ronald; Li, Yancheng; Wang, Yan; Ibañez, Gladys E; Somboonwit, Charurut; Cook, Robert L. (2024). Association between cannabis use disorder and greater apathy in adults with HIV.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 261, 111354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111354
MLA
Britton, Mark K, et al. "Association between cannabis use disorder and greater apathy in adults with HIV.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111354
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Association between cannabis use disorder and greater apathy..." RTHC-05161. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/britton-2024-association-between-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.