title: A preliminary comparison of cannabis use in subsyndromal gamblers: select neurocognitive and behavioral differences based on use.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cannabis and gambling are 2 common forms of impulsive behavior among young adults. Although both cannabis use and gambling have been associated with specific cognitive deficits on tasks related to decision making, no studies to date have examined the possible effects on neurocognition in those who simultaneously gamble and use cannabis.
  
  
  METHODS
  To address this question, the present study analyzed 214 subsyndromal gamblers from a larger study on impulsivity. Of these subjects, 64 (29.9%) were current cannabis users (last use within the last 3 months) and 150 (70.1%) had no history of cannabis use in the last 3 months, along with 163 healthy controls. Participants were assessed on various cognitive and clinical measures, including measures for gambling severity and impulsivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects using cannabis had higher rates of current alcohol use disorders and more frequent gambling behavior per week. Gamblers who used cannabis also exhibited significantly greater scores on one measure of attentional impulsivity. Both gambling groups differed from healthy controls on all clinical and select neurocognitive variables, consistent with previous research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that cannabis use in young adults who gamble is associated with nuanced behavioral differences, although causality could not be determined. Longitudinal research should examine cannabis use in subsyndromal gamblers over time to characterize whether these findings are causative.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience (EL, KD, JEG), University of Chicago; and Department of Psychiatry (SRC), University of Cambridge, and Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leppink
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Derbyshire
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005715:Gambling / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D055815:Young Adult