TOPLINE:Among 504 pregnant individuals, 46.8% reported using cannabis during pregnancy, with 58.1% citing mental health reasons. Cannabis use did not accelerate improvement in depression or stress symptoms compared with nonusers, even among those specifically using it for mental health relief.
METHODOLOGY:A cohort study recruited 504 pregnant individuals (median age, 26 years; range, 18-40 years) at an academic hospital’s obstetric clinic between July 2019 and January 2024, including those with lifetime cannabis use history.Researchers measured depression using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, stress using Cohen Perceived Stress Scale, and self-reported cannabis use at each trimester, along with motives for use during first trimester.Analysis included individual linear growth curve models to estimate changes in depression and stress scores and categorical self-reported prenatal cannabis use from first to third trimester.Participants reporting heavy episodic alcohol use or other illicit drug use were excluded from the study.TAKEAWAY:Depression and prenatal cannabis use showed positive correlations at first trimester (correlation coefficient [r], 0.17; P=.004) and in their rate of change (r, 0.18; P=.01), while stress and cannabis use were only correlated at first trimester (r, 0.14; P=.004).Participants using cannabis for mental health reasons (58.1%) demonstrated higher depression scores at each trimester, with more than twice the odds of continued use into second trimester compared with other users (odds ratio [OR], 2.77; 95% CI, 1.41-5.44; P=.003).Depression, stress, and cannabis use all decreased from first to third trimester (all slope estimates
Source : Medscape