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The association between Major Depressive Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2025

J. Alemar ,
J. M. Castaldelli-Maia  and
M. O. Pozzolo Pedro
J. Alemar*
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, Brazil
J. M. Castaldelli-Maia
Affiliation:
Neuroscience, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
M. O. Pozzolo Pedro
Affiliation:
Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric conditions, while cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globally. Both MDD and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) hold significant epidemiological and health implications. Emerging evidence suggests a co-occurrence between cannabis abuse, dependence and depression, though studies remain limited.

Objectives

To estimate the percentage of individuals with CUD who have comorbid MDD and those with MDD who have comorbid CUD.

Methods

PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar were searched using keywords: ((abuse, cannabis[MeSH Terms]) OR (cannabis dependence[MeSH Terms])) AND ((depressive disorder, major[MeSH Terms]) OR (depressive disorder[MeSH Terms])). Original articles in English or Portuguese were included. Data collection followed PRISMA, MOOSE guidelines, and JBI critical appraisal. The final sample included 53 articles: 36 for the first meta-analysis and 17 for the second. A heterogeneity test (Q test) and "leave-one-out meta-analysis" were used. Prevalence rates were aggregated using random-effects models. Meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

MDD showed a high prevalence among individuals with CUD, at 31.12% (95% CI: 25.71% to 36.80%). Prevalence was not significantly influenced by year, age, gender, population type, assessment period, region, or diagnostic criteria. CUD prevalence among those with MDD was 10.95% (95% CI: 7.08% to 15.53%), with higher rates in men and younger individuals. CUD prevalence appears to be increasing over time, though population type and assessment period did not significantly affect overall prevalence.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis reveals a high prevalence of MDD among individuals with CUD and a significant prevalence of CUD among those with MDD, confirming a strong comorbidity. Cannabis use may exacerbate depressive symptoms, while those with MDD are at higher risk of developing CUD. Age, gender, and geographical factors influence this relationship. With increasing cannabis use, particularly among younger populations, the CUD-MDD comorbidity presents a growing public health issue. Further research is needed to explore the longitudinal link between these disorders.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Information

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 68 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 33rd European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2025 , pp. S446 - S447
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of European Psychiatric Association
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