Association between preconception cannabis use and risk of postpartum depression: findings from an Australian longitudinal cohort

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108860

Commentary

Previous studies have suggested a positive association between cannabis use and depression, but because it is unclear whether preconception cannabis use is associated with postpartum depression (PPD), this study used a longitudinal design to investigate the association.

Participants examined the association between cannabis use in the past year, 3-15 months before pregnancy, and PPD at ages 19-24 and 22-27 in 516 women with 570 singleton births.

Results showed that compared to no cannabis use, cannabis use in the past year, 3-15 months before pregnancy, may be associated with an increased risk of PPD. (1.50, 0.99 to 2.28)

Compared to no cannabis use in the first three annual surveys before pregnancy, chronic use was associated with an 80% higher risk of developing PPD at birth in the next 1-4 years (1.80, 1.22 -2.68).

Compared to no users aged 20-25 years, former users who did not use within the past year did not have an increased risk, while last year's users had a 73% higher risk (1.73, 1.07-2.81).

In addition, users in the past year who started using marijuana after age 18 had a doubled risk of developing PPD at birth in the next 1-4 years (2.02, 1.17-3.49).