Bipolar Disorder and Marijuana Use (1 CE)

Number of Credits: 1

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists

Course By: Sagar, K.A., Dahlgren, M.K., Racine, M.T., Dreman, M.W., Olson, D.P., & Gruber, S.A. (2016). Joint effects: A pilot investigation of the impact of bipolar disorder and marijuana use on cognitive function and mood. PLOS ONE, 11(6): e0157060. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157060

Content By: Julie Laken Harnisher, Ph.D.

Course Description: Marijuana is the most widely used non-prescribed substance among individuals with bipolar disorder. Despite the prevalence of marijuana use among those with bipolar disorder, the literature regarding its impact on cognition and mood symptomatology is unclear. The accompanying study was a pilot investigation designed to fill a gap in the literature by investigating marijuana’s impact on cognitive function and mood among individuals with bipolar disorder. The pilot sample consisted of four groups of participants: individuals with bipolar disorder who smoked marijuana; individuals with bipolar disorder who did not smoke marijuana; marijuana smokers without any other DSM-IV-TR Axis I pathology; and healthy controls (who did not smoke marijuana and did not have any Axis I pathology). Resultant statistical analyses provided preliminary evidence that for some individuals with bipolar disorder, marijuana usage may result in a partial reduction of clinical symptoms. Further, this improvement did not co-occur with a reduction in cognitive functioning. The need for future clinical trials to further understand the relationship between bipolar disorder and marijuana usage was discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the reasons why a pilot study of the impact of bipolar disorder and marijuana use on cognitive function and mood was necessary in consideration of the state of the literature.
2. Determine the concomitant results of the study from the data presented.
3. Identify the main conclusions of the study in consideration of the resultant statistical findings.
4. Integrate the discussed study limitations with the identified study findings, areas suggested for future research, and implications for treatment of individuals with bipolar disorder.
5. Consider whether the current findings merit further investigation to determine generalizability to the larger population of individuals with bipolar disorder.

Course Outline:

1. Read and understand Joint effects: A pilot investigation of the impact of bipolar disorder and marijuana use on cognitive function and mood.
2. Read the Course Description and Learning Objectives.
3. Understand the potential relationships between bipolar disorder, marijuana usage, cognitive functioning, and mood.
4. Work through the post-test questions; answer selections should be derived from the accompanying article.
5. Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to further understand the impact of bipolar disorder and marijuana use on cognitive function and mood.

Approvals: