Cannabis use did not independently predict suicidal thoughts after controlling for personality traits
Among 972 high school students, cannabis use was not a significant independent predictor of suicidal ideation after adjusting for borderline and psychopathic personality traits.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers surveyed 972 high school students on cannabis use, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and personality traits. While cannabis use appeared associated with suicidal ideation in unadjusted analyses, this association was no longer significant after controlling for borderline and psychopathic personality traits.
The authors noted that previous studies showing inconsistent results regarding cannabis and suicidality may have been affected by failing to control for these specific personality traits, which are independently linked to both cannabis use and suicidal thinking.
Key Numbers
972 high school students. Cannabis use was not a significant independent predictor of suicidal ideation after adjusting for borderline and psychopathic personality traits, in either the total sample or the subsample of cannabis users.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional survey of 972 high school students using validated questionnaires for cannabis use, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and borderline and psychopathic personality traits. Regression analyses tested whether cannabis independently predicted suicidal ideation after adjustment for confounders.
Why This Research Matters
This study highlights the importance of confounding in cannabis research. When personality traits that drive both cannabis use and suicidal thinking are properly accounted for, the apparent direct link between cannabis and suicidality diminished. This distinction matters for clinical assessment and prevention.
The Bigger Picture
The relationship between cannabis and suicidality has been debated extensively. This study suggests that at least part of the association is driven by underlying personality traits rather than cannabis itself, which has implications for whether cannabis prevention or personality-focused interventions are more appropriate targets.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal or causal relationships. Self-reported data on sensitive topics. Only one measure of suicidal ideation was used. The study controlled for borderline and psychopathic traits but may have missed other relevant confounders.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would longitudinal studies with personality trait controls show the same null result?
- ?Do personality traits confound the cannabis-suicidality association in adults as well?
- ?Could cannabis use modify the expression of personality-driven suicidality even if not independently causing it?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis was not a significant predictor of suicidal ideation after controlling for personality traits
- Evidence Grade:
- Adequately powered cross-sectional study with novel confounder controls, though unable to establish causation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2014.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use and suicidal ideations in high-school students.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 39(12), 1766-8 (2014)
- Authors:
- Chabrol, Henri, Melioli, Tiffany, Goutaudier, Nelly
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00784
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis cause suicidal thoughts in teenagers?
This study found that after controlling for borderline and psychopathic personality traits, cannabis use was not independently associated with suicidal ideation. The apparent link may be driven by personality traits common to both behaviors.
Why have previous studies been inconsistent on cannabis and suicidality?
The authors suggested that different studies controlled for different confounders. When personality traits linked to both cannabis use and suicidality (particularly borderline and psychopathic traits) were accounted for, the association disappeared.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00784APA
Chabrol, Henri; Melioli, Tiffany; Goutaudier, Nelly. (2014). Cannabis use and suicidal ideations in high-school students.. Addictive behaviors, 39(12), 1766-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.06.008
MLA
Chabrol, Henri, et al. "Cannabis use and suicidal ideations in high-school students.." Addictive behaviors, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.06.008
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use and suicidal ideations in high-school students." RTHC-00784. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chabrol-2014-cannabis-use-and-suicidal
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.