A latent class analysis of 1,174 young adults identified five distinct cannabis use disorder profiles, from no problems to high severity, with different patterns of consumption, loss of control, and withdrawal.
Addiction counselors, psychiatrists treating CUD, and researchers studying cannabis use disorder heterogeneity.
5 distinct CUD profiles from 1,174 young adults
What the researchers found
Five classes emerged: "No problems," "Moderate consumption," "Consumption with moderate loss of control," "Consumption with moderate withdrawal," and "High consumption, loss of control, withdrawal." The classes differed in which DSM-5 CUD criteria were endorsed, especially among those with moderate-to-severe problems, and showed some differences in co-occurring psychopathology.
Why it matters
Treating cannabis use disorder as a single condition may miss important variation. Some people struggle mainly with consumption, others with loss of control, and others with withdrawal, suggesting different interventions may be needed.
The numbers in context
1,174 participants ages 18-34. 17 DSM-5 CUD symptoms analyzed. 5 distinct classes identified. Classes differed in endorsement patterns for consumption, loss of control, and withdrawal items.
How the study worked
Latent class analysis of 17 symptoms corresponding to DSM-5 CUD criteria in 1,174 participants ages 18-34. Multinomial regressions examined associations between class membership and psychological constructs.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design captures a snapshot rather than trajectories. Self-reported symptoms. Predominantly young adult sample may not generalize to older users. Class labels are descriptive, not diagnostic.
How to read the evidence
Large sample with validated statistical method (latent class analysis), but cross-sectional design.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
The DSM-5 treats CUD as a single spectrum from mild to severe, but this analysis suggests the reality is more nuanced, with qualitatively different presentations that a simple severity scale misses.
Questions still open
- Do people move between these classes over time? Would tailoring treatment to symptom profile improve outcomes compared to standard CUD interventions?
Common questions
Is cannabis use disorder the same for everyone?
What are the different types of cannabis use disorder?
Read the original research
An exploration of multivariate symptom clusters of cannabis use disorder in young adults.
Addictive behaviors, 135, 107465
Citation
Howe, Lindy K; Bailey, Allen J; Ingram, Polly F; Finn, Peter R. (2022). An exploration of multivariate symptom clusters of cannabis use disorder in young adults.. Addictive behaviors, 135, 107465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107465
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