PTSD Symptoms Predicted Declining Friend Support During Cannabis Cessation, Especially for Those Who Relapsed
In 116 veterans with cannabis dependence attempting to quit, higher PTSD symptoms predicted declining friend-based social support over 6 months, but only among those who relapsed within the first month.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers studied 116 veterans with cannabis dependence and PTSD symptoms who were attempting to quit cannabis use, tracking the relationship between PTSD and friend-based social support over 6 months.
Using a cross-lagged model, they found that earlier PTSD symptoms predicted later decreases in friend support, but the reverse was not significant. When the sample was split by relapse status, this negative effect of PTSD on future support was present only among veterans who relapsed in the first month after their quit attempt.
The findings suggest that substance use relapse may amplify the erosion of social support that PTSD can cause, creating a vicious cycle for those trying to quit.
Key Numbers
116 veterans studied over 6 months. PTSD symptoms significantly predicted declining friend support. This effect was present only in those who relapsed in the first month.
How They Did This
A longitudinal study following 116 veterans with cannabis dependence who initiated quit attempts. PTSD symptoms and friend-based social support were measured over 6 months. A cross-lagged autoregressive model was used to test bidirectional associations. Multigroup analysis compared those who relapsed within the first month to those who did not.
Why This Research Matters
Social support is important for both PTSD recovery and substance use cessation. This study identifies a pathway through which PTSD symptoms undermine the social resources that could help veterans maintain abstinence, with relapse further accelerating the loss of support.
The Bigger Picture
This study highlights the interconnected challenges facing veterans with co-occurring PTSD and cannabis dependence. The finding that relapse worsens the erosion of social support suggests that early relapse prevention is especially important, as losing social support makes subsequent quit attempts harder.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The relatively small sample (116 veterans) limited the multigroup analysis. Only friend-based (not family) support was measured. All participants were veterans, limiting generalizability. The study cannot determine whether cannabis relapse caused the loss of social support or whether declining support occurred for other reasons in the relapse group.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would interventions that strengthen social support improve quit success rates in veterans with PTSD?
- ?Does the same pattern hold for other substances, or is it specific to cannabis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- PTSD symptoms eroded friend support only in veterans who relapsed within the first month
- Evidence Grade:
- This is a small longitudinal study of 116 veterans. While the cross-lagged design provides directional evidence, the limited sample size and subgroup analysis make findings preliminary.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2016. Research on PTSD, cannabis use, and social support in veterans has continued.
- Original Title:
- Longitudinal associations of friend-based social support and PTSD symptomatology during a cannabis cessation attempt.
- Published In:
- Journal of anxiety disorders, 38, 62-7 (2016)
- Authors:
- Carter, Sarah P, DiMauro, Jennifer, Renshaw, Keith D, Curby, Timothy W, Babson, Kimberly A, Bonn-Miller, Marcel O
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01122
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why does PTSD affect friendships?
PTSD symptoms like emotional numbing, avoidance, irritability, and social withdrawal can strain relationships and make it harder to maintain friendships. This study found these symptoms predicted declining friend support, especially when combined with substance use relapse.
Does losing friends make it harder to quit cannabis?
The study suggests that relapsing and losing social support may create a negative cycle. Social support is a known protective factor for maintaining abstinence, so its loss could make future quit attempts more difficult. However, this specific causal pathway was not directly tested.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01122APA
Carter, Sarah P; DiMauro, Jennifer; Renshaw, Keith D; Curby, Timothy W; Babson, Kimberly A; Bonn-Miller, Marcel O. (2016). Longitudinal associations of friend-based social support and PTSD symptomatology during a cannabis cessation attempt.. Journal of anxiety disorders, 38, 62-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.01.008
MLA
Carter, Sarah P, et al. "Longitudinal associations of friend-based social support and PTSD symptomatology during a cannabis cessation attempt.." Journal of anxiety disorders, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2016.01.008
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Longitudinal associations of friend-based social support and..." RTHC-01122. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/carter-2016-longitudinal-associations-of-friendbased
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.