First Published Friday, 17 April 2009
Buckner JD, Schmidt NB.
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Los Angeles; Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
Background: Individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) appear particularly vulnerable to marijuana-related problems. Yet, mechanisms underlying this association are unclear.
Methods: This study examined the role of marijuana effect expectancies in the relation between SAD and marijuana problems among 107 marijuana users (43.0% female), 26.2% of whom met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition criteria for SAD. Anxiety and mood disorders were determined during clinical interviews using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule – IV-L (ADIS-IV).
Results: Analyses (including sex, marijuana use frequency, major depressive disorder, and other anxiety disorders) suggest that SAD was the only disorder significantly associated with past 3-month marijuana problems. Compared to those without SAD, individuals with SAD were more likely to endorse the following marijuana expectancies: cognitive/behavioral impairment and global negative expectancies. Importantly, these expectancies mediated the relations between SAD status and marijuana problems.
Conclusions: These data support the contention that SAD is uniquely related to marijuana problems and provide insight into mechanisms underlying this vulnerability.
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