Most people with cannabis use disorder had adverse childhood experiences or neurodevelopmental conditions
Among 323 patients with cannabis use disorder, the vast majority had pre-existing adverse childhood experiences, social-emotional impairments, or neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting these conditions precede and may contribute to problematic cannabis use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social-emotional impairments (SEIs), and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) were highly prevalent among CUD patients. Those with pre-CUD-onset ACEs, SEIs, or NDs differed significantly from those without, suggesting these conditions shape vulnerability to cannabis use disorder.
Key Numbers
323 patients with CUD, ages 12-35, mean age 22.94, 64.5% male. Non-premorbid group: 52 patients. The majority had pre-CUD-onset ACEs, SEIs, or neurodevelopmental disorders.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 323 inpatients and outpatients (ages 12-35, mean 22.9, 64.5% male) with current or past cannabis use disorder. Assessed for ACEs, SEIs, and NDs. Compared those with pre-CUD-onset conditions to those without.
Why This Research Matters
If ACEs, neurodevelopmental conditions, and social-emotional problems precede cannabis use disorder in most cases, prevention efforts should target these upstream vulnerabilities rather than focusing solely on cannabis availability.
The Bigger Picture
Cannabis use disorder rarely develops in isolation. This study reinforces the view that problematic substance use is often downstream of childhood adversity and neurodevelopmental challenges, pointing toward integrated treatment that addresses root causes.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot confirm temporal ordering despite attempting to identify pre-CUD conditions. Recall bias for childhood events. Clinical sample may not represent all people with CUD. Single-interview assessment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would addressing ACEs and neurodevelopmental conditions earlier in life prevent CUD development?
- ?Do treatment outcomes improve when comorbid ACEs and NDs are addressed alongside CUD?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 323 CUD patients; majority had pre-existing ACEs or neurodevelopmental conditions
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional study with retrospective assessment of pre-morbid conditions. Informative but cannot establish causal pathways.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023.
- Original Title:
- A comprehensive evaluation of adverse childhood experiences, social-emotional impairments, and neurodevelopmental disorders in cannabis-use disorder: Implications for clinical practice.
- Published In:
- European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 66(1), e77 (2023)
- Authors:
- Trovini, Giada(2), Amici, Emanuela(2), Bauco, Piergiorgio, Matrone, Marta, Lombardozzi, Ginevra, Giovanetti, Valeria, Kotzalidis, Georgios D, De Filippis, Sergio
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04990
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does childhood trauma lead to cannabis addiction?
This study found that most people with cannabis use disorder had experienced adverse childhood events, social-emotional problems, or neurodevelopmental conditions before their cannabis use became problematic. While this suggests these experiences contribute to vulnerability, the cross-sectional design cannot prove causation.
Should cannabis addiction treatment address childhood trauma?
The high prevalence of ACEs and neurodevelopmental conditions in this CUD population suggests that treatment focusing only on cannabis use may miss important underlying factors. Integrated approaches addressing trauma, social-emotional functioning, and neurodevelopmental needs alongside substance use could be more effective.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04990APA
Trovini, Giada; Amici, Emanuela; Bauco, Piergiorgio; Matrone, Marta; Lombardozzi, Ginevra; Giovanetti, Valeria; Kotzalidis, Georgios D; De Filippis, Sergio. (2023). A comprehensive evaluation of adverse childhood experiences, social-emotional impairments, and neurodevelopmental disorders in cannabis-use disorder: Implications for clinical practice.. European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 66(1), e77. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2436
MLA
Trovini, Giada, et al. "A comprehensive evaluation of adverse childhood experiences, social-emotional impairments, and neurodevelopmental disorders in cannabis-use disorder: Implications for clinical practice.." European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2436
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "A comprehensive evaluation of adverse childhood experiences,..." RTHC-04990. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/trovini-2023-a-comprehensive-evaluation-of
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.