Self-Reported Effects of Cannabis on ADHD Symptoms, ADHD Medication Side Effects, and ADHD-Related Executive Dysfunction

Summary & key facts

The researchers surveyed 1,738 students about ADHD, cannabis use, and thinking skills. People with ADHD who had used cannabis said it gave them short-term benefits for many ADHD symptoms (for example, hyperactivity and impulsivity) and eased many medication side effects (for example, irritability and anxiety). The study also found that how often someone used cannabis affected the link between ADHD symptom severity and problems with executive function. These results come from self-reports and do not prove cannabis causes these effects.

Key facts:

• The study used an online survey of 1,738 students.
• Participants with ADHD who had used cannabis reported acute (short-term) beneficial effects on many ADHD symptoms, including hyperactivity and impulsivity.
• Those participants also reported that cannabis improved most of their ADHD medication side effects, such as irritability and anxiety.
• Cannabis use frequency was a significant moderator of the association between ADHD symptom severity and executive dysfunction, meaning more frequent use was associated with lower reported executive dysfunction in this sample.
• The data are self-reports from students and cannot establish cause and effect or prove that cannabis actually produces the effects participants reported.

Abstract

Results suggest people with ADHD may be using cannabis to self-medicate for many of their symptoms and medication side effects and that more frequent use may mitigate ADHD-related executive dysfunction.

Topics

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Bipolar Disorder and Treatment Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Psychiatry and Mental health

Tags

Anxiety Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Cannabidiol Cannabis Cannabis Dependence Clinical psychology Cognition Comorbidity Effects of cannabis Executive dysfunction Executive functions Impulsivity Irritability Neuropsychology Psychiatry Psychology