Apathy and Anhedonia in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Martine Skumlien; Christelle Langley; Will Lawn; Valerie Voon; Barbara J Sahakian

doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyab033

Apathy and Anhedonia in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Martine Skumlien, Christelle Langley, Will Lawn, Valerie Voon, Barbara J Sahakian

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 lockdown measures have caused severe disruptions to work and education and prevented people from engaging in many rewarding activities. Cannabis users may be especially vulnerable, having been previously shown to have higher levels of apathy and anhedonia than non-users.

METHODS: In this survey study, we measured apathy and anhedonia, before and after lockdown measures were implemented, in n = 256 adult and n = 200 adolescent cannabis users and n = 170 adult and n = 172 adolescent controls. Scores on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) were investigated with mixed-measures ANCOVA, with factors user group, age group, and time, controlling for depression, anxiety, and other drug use.

RESULTS: Adolescent cannabis users had significantly higher SHAPS scores before lockdown, indicative of greater anhedonia, compared with adolescent controls (P = .03, η p2 = .013). Contrastingly, adult users had significantly lower scores on both the SHAPS (P < .001, η p2 = .030) and AES (P < .001, η p2 = .048) after lockdown compared with adult controls. Scores on both scales increased during lockdown across groups, and this increase was significantly smaller for cannabis users (AES: P = .001, η p2 = .014; SHAPS: P = .01, η p2 = .008). Exploratory analyses revealed that dependent cannabis users had significantly higher scores overall (AES: P < .001, η p2 = .037; SHAPS: P < .001, η p2 = .029) and a larger increase in scores (AES: P = .04, η p2 =.010; SHAPS: P = .04, η p2 = .010), compared with non-dependent users.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adolescents and adults have differential associations between cannabis use as well as apathy and anhedonia. Within users, dependence may be associated with higher levels of apathy and anhedonia regardless of age and a greater increase in levels during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	859-866
Number of pages	8
Journal	International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
Volume	24
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyab033
Publication status	Published - 12 Nov 2021

Bibliographical note

This work was supported by Eton College (grant no. RNAG403). M.S. is funded by an Aker Scholarship from the Aker Foundation. B.J.S. receives funding from the Wallitt Foundation, Eton College, and a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; C.L. is funded by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; and their research is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (Mental Health Theme and Neurodegeneration Theme) and the NIHR Brain Injury MedTech and in vitro diagnostics Co-operative (MIC), Cambridge.

Keywords

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Anhedonia
Apathy
COVID-19
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Marijuana Abuse/psychology
Marijuana Smoking/psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult

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10.1093/ijnp/pyab033Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{3e23cf8e1dda465a8a0b5adbdf88b64a,

title = "Apathy and Anhedonia in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: COVID-19 lockdown measures have caused severe disruptions to work and education and prevented people from engaging in many rewarding activities. Cannabis users may be especially vulnerable, having been previously shown to have higher levels of apathy and anhedonia than non-users.METHODS: In this survey study, we measured apathy and anhedonia, before and after lockdown measures were implemented, in n = 256 adult and n = 200 adolescent cannabis users and n = 170 adult and n = 172 adolescent controls. Scores on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) were investigated with mixed-measures ANCOVA, with factors user group, age group, and time, controlling for depression, anxiety, and other drug use.RESULTS: Adolescent cannabis users had significantly higher SHAPS scores before lockdown, indicative of greater anhedonia, compared with adolescent controls (P = .03, η p2 = .013). Contrastingly, adult users had significantly lower scores on both the SHAPS (P < .001, η p2 = .030) and AES (P < .001, η p2 = .048) after lockdown compared with adult controls. Scores on both scales increased during lockdown across groups, and this increase was significantly smaller for cannabis users (AES: P = .001, η p2 = .014; SHAPS: P = .01, η p2 = .008). Exploratory analyses revealed that dependent cannabis users had significantly higher scores overall (AES: P < .001, η p2 = .037; SHAPS: P < .001, η p2 = .029) and a larger increase in scores (AES: P = .04, η p2 =.010; SHAPS: P = .04, η p2 = .010), compared with non-dependent users.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adolescents and adults have differential associations between cannabis use as well as apathy and anhedonia. Within users, dependence may be associated with higher levels of apathy and anhedonia regardless of age and a greater increase in levels during the COVID-19 lockdown.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Anhedonia, Apathy, COVID-19, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Marijuana Abuse/psychology, Marijuana Smoking/psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult",

author = "Martine Skumlien and Christelle Langley and Will Lawn and Valerie Voon and Sahakian, {Barbara J}",

note = "This work was supported by Eton College (grant no. RNAG403). M.S. is funded by an Aker Scholarship from the Aker Foundation. B.J.S. receives funding from the Wallitt Foundation, Eton College, and a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; C.L. is funded by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; and their research is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (Mental Health Theme and Neurodegeneration Theme) and the NIHR Brain Injury MedTech and in vitro diagnostics Co-operative (MIC), Cambridge.",

year = "2021",

month = nov,

day = "12",

doi = "10.1093/ijnp/pyab033",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

pages = "859--866",

journal = "International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology",

issn = "1461-1457",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "11",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Apathy and Anhedonia in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

AU - Skumlien, Martine

AU - Langley, Christelle

AU - Lawn, Will

AU - Voon, Valerie

AU - Sahakian, Barbara J

N1 - This work was supported by Eton College (grant no. RNAG403). M.S. is funded by an Aker Scholarship from the Aker Foundation. B.J.S. receives funding from the Wallitt Foundation, Eton College, and a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; C.L. is funded by a Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award 200181/Z//15/Z; and their research is conducted within the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (Mental Health Theme and Neurodegeneration Theme) and the NIHR Brain Injury MedTech and in vitro diagnostics Co-operative (MIC), Cambridge.

PY - 2021/11/12

Y1 - 2021/11/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: COVID-19 lockdown measures have caused severe disruptions to work and education and prevented people from engaging in many rewarding activities. Cannabis users may be especially vulnerable, having been previously shown to have higher levels of apathy and anhedonia than non-users.METHODS: In this survey study, we measured apathy and anhedonia, before and after lockdown measures were implemented, in n = 256 adult and n = 200 adolescent cannabis users and n = 170 adult and n = 172 adolescent controls. Scores on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) were investigated with mixed-measures ANCOVA, with factors user group, age group, and time, controlling for depression, anxiety, and other drug use.RESULTS: Adolescent cannabis users had significantly higher SHAPS scores before lockdown, indicative of greater anhedonia, compared with adolescent controls (P = .03, η p2 = .013). Contrastingly, adult users had significantly lower scores on both the SHAPS (P < .001, η p2 = .030) and AES (P < .001, η p2 = .048) after lockdown compared with adult controls. Scores on both scales increased during lockdown across groups, and this increase was significantly smaller for cannabis users (AES: P = .001, η p2 = .014; SHAPS: P = .01, η p2 = .008). Exploratory analyses revealed that dependent cannabis users had significantly higher scores overall (AES: P < .001, η p2 = .037; SHAPS: P < .001, η p2 = .029) and a larger increase in scores (AES: P = .04, η p2 =.010; SHAPS: P = .04, η p2 = .010), compared with non-dependent users.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adolescents and adults have differential associations between cannabis use as well as apathy and anhedonia. Within users, dependence may be associated with higher levels of apathy and anhedonia regardless of age and a greater increase in levels during the COVID-19 lockdown.

AB - BACKGROUND: COVID-19 lockdown measures have caused severe disruptions to work and education and prevented people from engaging in many rewarding activities. Cannabis users may be especially vulnerable, having been previously shown to have higher levels of apathy and anhedonia than non-users.METHODS: In this survey study, we measured apathy and anhedonia, before and after lockdown measures were implemented, in n = 256 adult and n = 200 adolescent cannabis users and n = 170 adult and n = 172 adolescent controls. Scores on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) were investigated with mixed-measures ANCOVA, with factors user group, age group, and time, controlling for depression, anxiety, and other drug use.RESULTS: Adolescent cannabis users had significantly higher SHAPS scores before lockdown, indicative of greater anhedonia, compared with adolescent controls (P = .03, η p2 = .013). Contrastingly, adult users had significantly lower scores on both the SHAPS (P < .001, η p2 = .030) and AES (P < .001, η p2 = .048) after lockdown compared with adult controls. Scores on both scales increased during lockdown across groups, and this increase was significantly smaller for cannabis users (AES: P = .001, η p2 = .014; SHAPS: P = .01, η p2 = .008). Exploratory analyses revealed that dependent cannabis users had significantly higher scores overall (AES: P < .001, η p2 = .037; SHAPS: P < .001, η p2 = .029) and a larger increase in scores (AES: P = .04, η p2 =.010; SHAPS: P = .04, η p2 = .010), compared with non-dependent users.CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adolescents and adults have differential associations between cannabis use as well as apathy and anhedonia. Within users, dependence may be associated with higher levels of apathy and anhedonia regardless of age and a greater increase in levels during the COVID-19 lockdown.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Anhedonia

KW - Apathy

KW - COVID-19

KW - Case-Control Studies

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Marijuana Abuse/psychology

KW - Marijuana Smoking/psychology

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1093/ijnp/pyab033

DO - 10.1093/ijnp/pyab033

M3 - Article

C2 - 34077523

SN - 1461-1457

VL - 24

SP - 859

EP - 866

JO - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

JF - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

IS - 11

ER -

Apathy and Anhedonia in Adult and Adolescent Cannabis Users and Controls Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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