Cannabis use disorder is not one-size-fits-all: five distinct symptom profiles identified in young adults
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do people move between these classes over time?
- ?Would tailoring treatment to symptom profile improve outcomes compared to standard CUD interventions?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5 distinct CUD profiles from 1,174 young adults
- Evidence Grade:
- Large sample with validated statistical method (latent class analysis), but cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- An exploration of multivariate symptom clusters of cannabis use disorder in young adults.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 135, 107465 (2022)
- Authors:
- Howe, Lindy K(4), Bailey, Allen J, Ingram, Polly F, Finn, Peter R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03918
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis use disorder the same for everyone?
No. This study identified five distinct profiles, ranging from no problems to high severity, with different patterns of consumption, loss of control, and withdrawal. People with moderate problems showed especially varied presentations.
What are the different types of cannabis use disorder?
The study found profiles characterized by moderate consumption only, consumption with loss of control but minimal withdrawal, consumption with withdrawal symptoms, and a high-severity class with all three features.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03918APA
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
MLA
Howe, Lindy K, et al. "An exploration of multivariate symptom clusters of cannabis use disorder in young adults.." Addictive behaviors, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107465
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "An exploration of multivariate symptom clusters of cannabis ..." RTHC-03918. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/howe-2022-an-exploration-of-multivariate
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.