title: Psychobiological responses to unpleasant emotions in cannabis users.
abstract: Aim of this paper is to investigate the psychobiological reactions to experimentally induced negative emotional states in active marijuana-dependent smokers and whether changes in emotional reactivity were reversed by prolonged abstinence. Twenty-eight patients were randomly included into group A (fourteen active marijuana-dependent smokers) or group B (fourteen abstinent marijuana-dependent subjects). Emotional response evaluation of group B subjects was assessed after 6 months of abstinence. Fourteen healthy volunteers, matched for age and sex, were used as controls. Psychometric and emotional response evaluations were performed by administering Symptoms Check List-90 and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Y-1 (STAI). Neutral and unpleasant set of pictures selected from the international affective picture system and the Self-Assesment Manikin procedure (SAM) have been used to determine ratings of pleasure and arousal. Before and after the experimental session, blood samples were collected to determine ACTH and cortisol plasma levels. Active cannabis users displayed significantly higher levels of pleasantness SAM scores and lower levels of arousal SAM scores compared to abstinent cannabis users and controls in response to emotional task. In a close parallel with psychological data, hormonal findings indicate a persistent hyperactivity of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in cannabis users, particularly among active marijuana smokers, and an impaired hormonal reaction to negative emotions, in comparison with healthy subjects. The capacity of the HPA axis to respond to stressful stimuli/negative emotions seems to be only partially recovered after 6 months of abstinence. Ours findings, although obtained in a small number of subjects, suggest an association between active cannabis use, subjective reduced sensitivity to negative emotions and threat and HPA axis dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Addiction, Health Local Unit BI, Biella, Italy. lorenzo.somaini@aslbi.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Somaini
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manfredini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaimovic
authors.forename: Maria Augusta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raggi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Maria Lidia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gerra
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donnini
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone