A new study, co-led by researchers from Columbia University and Weill Cornell Medicine, has captured the magnitude and issues related to cannabis use disorders during pregnancy by examining diagnostic codes for more than 20 million U.S.
The study, “Association of Comorbid Behavioral and Medical Conditions with Cannabis Use Disorder in Pregnancy,” published in the online edition of JAMA Psychiatry Nov.
“This is the largest study to document the scale of cannabis use disorder in prenatal hospitalizations,” said Claudia Lugo-Candelas, PhD, assistant professor of clinical medical psychology in Columbia’s Department of Psychiatry and one of the study’s co-authors.
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended against using cannabis while pregnant, chiefly because of known and unknown fetal effects.
The study identified 249,084 hospitalized pregnant patients with cannabis use disorder and classified them into three sub-groups: those with cannabis use disorder only; those with use disorders for cannabis and other substances, including at least one controlled substance; and those with cannabis use disorder and other substances not related to controlled substances.
Patients’ records were analyzed for depression, anxiety, trauma, and ADHD, and a broader category of mood-related disorders.
Whether that was due to patients using cannabis to mitigate nausea, or due to cannabis use, which can cause a vomiting syndrome, or a symptom of pregnancy is unknown.
Screening for cannabis use during pregnancy could help, but state mandatory reporting requirements may deter some clinicians from asking about use.
The science on prenatal effects of the disorder is still largely unknown, although frequent use has been linked to low birth weight and other adverse outcomes.
The rising rate of cannabis use by pregnant patients shows that such investigations are needed now.
In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr.