Polysomnogram changes in marijuana users who report sleep disturbances during prior abstinence.
BACKGROUND
Abrupt discontinuation of heavy marijuana (MJ) use is associated with self-reports of sleep difficulty. Disturbed sleep is clinically important because MJ users experiencing sleep problems may relapse to MJ use to improve their sleep quality. Few studies have used polysomnography (PSG) to characterize changes in sleep architecture during abrupt abstinence from heavy MJ use.


METHODS
We recorded PSG measures on nights 1, 2, 7, 8, and 13 after abrupt MJ discontinuation in 18 heavy MJ users residing in an inpatient unit.


RESULTS
Across abstinence, Total Sleep Time (TST), Sleep Efficiency (SEff), and amount of REM sleep declined, while Wake after Sleep Onset (WASO) and Periodic Limb Movements (PLM) increased. Furthermore, quantity (joints/week) and duration (years) of MJ use were positively associated with more PLMs.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of sleep disturbance is a potential target for the management of cannabis use disorders since poor sleep could contribute to treatment failure in heavy MJ users.
Bolla
Karen I
KI
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. kbolla@jhmi.edu
Lesage
Suzanne R
SR
Gamaldo
Charlene E
CE
Neubauer
David N
DN
Wang
Nae-Yuh
NY
Funderburk
Frank R
FR
Allen
Richard P
RP
David
Paula M
PM
Cadet
Jean Lud
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D012737:Sex Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult