Interactive effects of PTSD and substance use on suicidal ideation and behavior in military personnel: Increased risk from marijuana use.
alcohol
cannabis
opioids
posttraumatic stress disorder
suicide
Journal
Depression and anxiety
ISSN: 1520-6394
Titre abrégé: Depress Anxiety
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9708816
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2019
11 2019
Historique:
received:
18
10
2018
revised:
18
06
2019
accepted:
27
07
2019
pubmed:
3
9
2019
medline:
15
4
2020
entrez:
3
9
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The current study examines the unique and interactive effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and days using alcohol, opioids, and marijuana on PTSD symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior up to 1 year, later in a high-risk sample of military personnel not active in mental health treatment. Current and former military personnel at risk for suicide (N = 545; M age = 31.91 years, standard deviation = 7.27; 88.2% male) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, past 30 days heavy alcohol use, opioid use, marijuana use, and current suicidal ideation via telephone at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later. PTSD symptoms and the substance use variables (and relevant covariates) were entered as predictors of changes in PTSD symptoms, the likelihood of suicidal ideation, suicidal ideation severity, and the likelihood of suicidal behavior during the 11-month follow-up period. PTSD symptoms predicted PTSD symptoms 1 month later. PTSD symptoms and marijuana use predicted the likelihood of suicidal ideation 1 month later and suicidal behavior during the 11-month follow-up period. The interaction between PTSD symptoms and marijuana use significantly predicted increased PTSD symptoms over time and suicidal behavior. At high, but not low levels of PTSD symptoms, more days using marijuana predicted increased PTSD symptoms over time and the likelihood of suicidal behavior. Results suggest marijuana, especially for military personnel experiencing elevated PTSD symptoms may negatively impact suicidal thoughts and behavior. These results are relevant to suggestions that medical marijuana could be used in treating or augmenting treatment for PTSD.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The current study examines the unique and interactive effects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and days using alcohol, opioids, and marijuana on PTSD symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior up to 1 year, later in a high-risk sample of military personnel not active in mental health treatment.
METHODS
Current and former military personnel at risk for suicide (N = 545; M age = 31.91 years, standard deviation = 7.27; 88.2% male) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, past 30 days heavy alcohol use, opioid use, marijuana use, and current suicidal ideation via telephone at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months later. PTSD symptoms and the substance use variables (and relevant covariates) were entered as predictors of changes in PTSD symptoms, the likelihood of suicidal ideation, suicidal ideation severity, and the likelihood of suicidal behavior during the 11-month follow-up period.
RESULTS
PTSD symptoms predicted PTSD symptoms 1 month later. PTSD symptoms and marijuana use predicted the likelihood of suicidal ideation 1 month later and suicidal behavior during the 11-month follow-up period. The interaction between PTSD symptoms and marijuana use significantly predicted increased PTSD symptoms over time and suicidal behavior. At high, but not low levels of PTSD symptoms, more days using marijuana predicted increased PTSD symptoms over time and the likelihood of suicidal behavior.
CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest marijuana, especially for military personnel experiencing elevated PTSD symptoms may negatively impact suicidal thoughts and behavior. These results are relevant to suggestions that medical marijuana could be used in treating or augmenting treatment for PTSD.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1072-1079Informations de copyright
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.