Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study
Background: Use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding is increasing. Mental health concerns are reported as common reasons for maternal cannabis use, but little is known about the use of psychiatric medications in this population. Objectives: This study aimed to describe psychiatric medicat...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Women's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199391 |
| _version_ | 1797674368817430528 |
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| author | Diego Regalado Meghan E. Connolly Kaytlin Krutsch Amy Stark Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Christine D. Garner |
| author_facet | Diego Regalado Meghan E. Connolly Kaytlin Krutsch Amy Stark Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Christine D. Garner |
| author_sort | Diego Regalado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding is increasing. Mental health concerns are reported as common reasons for maternal cannabis use, but little is known about the use of psychiatric medications in this population. Objectives: This study aimed to describe psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns. Design: Anonymous, online cross-sectional survey. Methods: Data were collected from May 2018 to August 2019 among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis. This study included mothers who reported cannabis use for mental health concerns (n = 1363). The survey assessed the timing of cannabis use (during pregnancy and/or lactation); use of cannabis to address depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or anxiety; use of psychiatric medications; psychiatric distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4); and demographic information. Differences between groups were examined using t-test and chi-square test in SPSS. Results: The mean age was 29.7 years; most were married (62%); 74% were White non-Hispanic, 9% Hispanic, and 17% Black, Indigenous or other People of Color. Mental health symptoms prompting cannabis use included anxiety (96%), depression (75%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (36%). Only 24% of respondents (n = 322) reported concomitant use of psychiatric medications, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (72%, n = 232) and benzodiazepines (21%, n = 68). The composite Patient Health Questionnaire-4 showed most respondents had no (61%) or mild (27%) psychological distress; 14% screened positive for depression; and 17% screened positive for anxiety. Respondents who used psychiatric medications more often screened positive mental health concerns. Conclusion: Most mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns were not taking psychiatric medications. This may be due to a mismatch between perceived mental health and screening results, un- or under-treated mental illness, or preference for cannabis over psychiatric medications. Improved management of perinatal mental health and effective patient education about risks of cannabis versus medication use are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:59:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5ba6a356d0243eca8b39ba69e1307d0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-5065 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:59:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5ba6a356d0243eca8b39ba69e1307d02023-09-25T17:33:36ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652023-09-011910.1177/17455057231199391Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey studyDiego Regalado0Meghan E. Connolly1Kaytlin Krutsch2Amy Stark3Kathleen Kendall-Tackett4Christine D. Garner5School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USASchool of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USAInfantRisk Center, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USADepartment of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USABackground: Use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding is increasing. Mental health concerns are reported as common reasons for maternal cannabis use, but little is known about the use of psychiatric medications in this population. Objectives: This study aimed to describe psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns. Design: Anonymous, online cross-sectional survey. Methods: Data were collected from May 2018 to August 2019 among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis. This study included mothers who reported cannabis use for mental health concerns (n = 1363). The survey assessed the timing of cannabis use (during pregnancy and/or lactation); use of cannabis to address depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or anxiety; use of psychiatric medications; psychiatric distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4); and demographic information. Differences between groups were examined using t-test and chi-square test in SPSS. Results: The mean age was 29.7 years; most were married (62%); 74% were White non-Hispanic, 9% Hispanic, and 17% Black, Indigenous or other People of Color. Mental health symptoms prompting cannabis use included anxiety (96%), depression (75%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (36%). Only 24% of respondents (n = 322) reported concomitant use of psychiatric medications, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (72%, n = 232) and benzodiazepines (21%, n = 68). The composite Patient Health Questionnaire-4 showed most respondents had no (61%) or mild (27%) psychological distress; 14% screened positive for depression; and 17% screened positive for anxiety. Respondents who used psychiatric medications more often screened positive mental health concerns. Conclusion: Most mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns were not taking psychiatric medications. This may be due to a mismatch between perceived mental health and screening results, un- or under-treated mental illness, or preference for cannabis over psychiatric medications. Improved management of perinatal mental health and effective patient education about risks of cannabis versus medication use are needed.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199391 |
| spellingShingle | Diego Regalado Meghan E. Connolly Kaytlin Krutsch Amy Stark Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Christine D. Garner Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study Women's Health |
| title | Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_full | Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_fullStr | Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_short | Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_sort | psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns a cross sectional survey study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199391 |
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