Cannabis withdrawal mimicked eating disorders in three adolescents
Three adolescents referred to an eating disorders program for food avoidance and weight loss actually had cannabis withdrawal syndrome, highlighting the importance of screening for cannabis use in teens with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Three adolescents presented to an eating disorders program with gastrointestinal symptoms, food avoidance, and weight loss. None met criteria for an actual eating disorder. Instead, all three fulfilled DSM-5 criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome.
The cases demonstrated that cannabis withdrawal can produce symptoms that closely mimic eating disorders, particularly appetite loss, nausea, and associated weight loss. The authors emphasized that CWS is an important and under-recognized consideration when adolescents present with disordered eating patterns.
Key Numbers
Three adolescents. All met DSM-5 criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome. None met criteria for an eating disorder.
How They Did This
Case series of three adolescents presenting to an eating disorders program. Clinical assessment revealed heavy cannabis use history and symptoms consistent with DSM-5 cannabis withdrawal syndrome rather than eating disorders.
Why This Research Matters
Misdiagnosis of cannabis withdrawal as an eating disorder can lead to unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. As cannabis use among adolescents is common, clinicians evaluating teens with appetite loss and weight loss need to screen for recent changes in cannabis use.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis withdrawal was not included in the DSM until DSM-5 (2013), so clinician awareness remains limited. These cases illustrate how withdrawal symptoms can masquerade as other conditions, particularly in adolescents who may not disclose drug use voluntarily.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Three cases from a single program. The overlap between CWS and eating disorder symptoms may not always be this clear-cut. Some patients may have both conditions. The cases highlight a diagnostic consideration rather than establishing prevalence.
Questions This Raises
- ?How often are adolescents with cannabis withdrawal misdiagnosed with eating disorders?
- ?Would routine cannabis screening in eating disorder programs identify additional CWS cases?
- ?Do the appetite effects of cannabis withdrawal vary by age or sex?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Three teens misdiagnosed with eating problems actually had cannabis withdrawal
- Evidence Grade:
- Case series highlighting an important diagnostic consideration, though limited to three patients at one program.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2014, shortly after DSM-5 added cannabis withdrawal as a diagnosis.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis withdrawal syndrome: An important diagnostic consideration in adolescents presenting with disordered eating.
- Published In:
- The International journal of eating disorders, 47(2), 219-23 (2014)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00786
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis withdrawal cause weight loss?
Yes. These three cases showed that cannabis withdrawal can cause food avoidance, gastrointestinal symptoms, and significant weight loss that mimics eating disorders. Symptoms resolved when the withdrawal was properly recognized and managed.
How is cannabis withdrawal different from an eating disorder?
Cannabis withdrawal can produce similar symptoms (appetite loss, nausea, weight loss) but has a clear temporal relationship to stopping or reducing heavy cannabis use. Proper history-taking about substance use is key to distinguishing the two.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00786APA
Chesney, Tyler; Matsos, Laura; Couturier, Jennifer; Johnson, Natasha. (2014). Cannabis withdrawal syndrome: An important diagnostic consideration in adolescents presenting with disordered eating.. The International journal of eating disorders, 47(2), 219-23. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22229
MLA
Chesney, Tyler, et al. "Cannabis withdrawal syndrome: An important diagnostic consideration in adolescents presenting with disordered eating.." The International journal of eating disorders, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22229
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis withdrawal syndrome: An important diagnostic consid..." RTHC-00786. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chesney-2014-cannabis-withdrawal-syndrome-an
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.