Effect of Islamic psycho-spiritual therapy in managing craving,withdrawal symptoms,and mental health problems among cannabis users

ABSTRACT

The present study is an examination of Islamic psycho-spiritual therapy in managing craving, withdrawal symptoms, and mental health problems among cannabis users. Homogeneous purposive sampling was used in the selection of the sample. The therapy and administration of three scales (Marijuana Craving Scale Short Form; Cannabis Withdrawal Scale; Mental Health Inventory) were undertaken among 40 Muslim male cannabis users whose age ranged between 14 and 37 years on pre- and post-test analysis. The results highlighted the significant differences in the respective dimensions of the Craving and Withdrawal Scales and the Mental Health Inventory such as compulsivity, emotionality, expectancy and purposefulness, withdrawal intensity and negative impact of withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, depression, loss of behavioural/emotional control, emotional ties, life satisfaction, psychological distress, psychological well-being, and mental health index.     

Age group differences in self-reported aggressive driving perpetration and victimization

Aim

This study examined whether the predictors of self-reported aggressive driving perpetration and victimization vary across age groups.

Method

Based on data from a general-population telephone survey conducted from July 2002 through June 2005, three groups of drivers were examined: 18–34 year-olds (N = 1522), 35–54 year-olds (N = 2726), and 55 years of age or older (N = 1883). For each age group sample, logistic regression analyses examined self-reported aggressive driving perpetration and victimization in the last 12 months by measures of driving exposure, heavy drinking, cannabis use, and drinking-driving, while controlling for demographic factors.

Results

The prevalence of aggressive driving perpetration within the past year was highest for the youngest age group (51%), followed by the middle-aged group (37%), and then the oldest age group (18%). The same pattern of results was found for prevalence of aggressive driving victimization (54%, 47%, and 31%, respectively). Controlling for demographic factors, the predictors of perpetration were generally consistent across the age groups. The logistic regression model for the youngest drivers revealed that those who reported stressful driving, heavy drinking, and cannabis use had significantly increased odds of reporting perpetration of aggressive driving. For middle-aged and older drivers, stressful driving, driving on busy roads, cannabis use, and driving after drinking were associated with perpetration. In addition, increased mileage contributed to perpetration in the oldest group. The findings for victimization by aggressive driving were similar. The logistic regression model for the youngest age group identified stressful driving, cannabis use, and higher annual mileage as being associated with victimization. For the oldest age group, these same variables were significant predictors of victimization, in addition to driving on busy roads. The logistic regression for the middle-aged group identified the same predictors as that of the oldest age group; however, interestingly driving after drinking was found to predict lower victimization among middle-aged drivers.

Conclusions

Although the prevalence of aggressive driving perpetration and victimization declined with age, the factors that contributed to aggressive driving remained generally stable across the lifespan. The results suggest that efforts to reduce aggressive driving among young drivers may prove to be effective for drivers from all age groups.     

Inspired by Mary Jane? Mechanisms underlying enhanced creativity in cannabis users

Previous research suggests cannabis may enhance some aspects of creativity, although the results remain somewhat equivocal. Moreover, it is unclear whether differences in cannabis users’ personalities may account for any potentially beneficial effects of cannabis on creativity. This study was designed to examine whether sober cannabis users demonstrate superior self-reported and objective creativity test performance relative to non-users, and to determine whether any of the Big 5 personality domains underlie these effects. A sample of sober cannabis users (n = 412) and non-users (n = 309) completed measures of cannabis consumption, personality, self-reported and objective creativity. Relative to non-users, sober cannabis users self-reported higher creativity, and performed significantly better on a measure of convergent thinking. Controlling for cannabis users’ higher levels of openness to experience abolished these effects. Therefore, while cannabis users appear to demonstrate enhanced creativity, these effects are an artifact of their heightened levels of openness to experience.     

Changes in cannabis use in emerging adulthood: The influence of peer network,impulsivity, anxiety and depression

IntroductionCannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug with the highest prevalence reported among 15- to 24-year-olds. This specific period of emerging adulthood constitutes a critical age for substance use and for future consumption. Cannabis use patterns change during college or university and the post-college transition; users are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes (especially if they start or maintain a pattern of frequent use).ObjectivesThe overall aim of this study was to highlight psychological and relational factors that might be associated with changes (including cessation and fluctuation) in cannabis use during this specific period, separately for males and females.MethodsThe subjects were 682 first-year college students (69.94% of female), aged between 18 and 25 years (M = 18.59 years, SD = 1.56). Four groups were formed according to cannabis consumption: “non-users” (54.64%), “desisting users” (14.04%), “fluctuating users” (16.23%), and “persistent users” (15.07%). A self-report questionnaire was administered to evaluate prevalence, frequency and trajectory of use, number of peer cannabis users, alcohol use, impulsivity, anxiety (trait and social) and depression.ResultsFemales appear more sensitive to the romantic partner's consumption than males. For both sexes, having more friends who use cannabis appears to be a determinant. Depression and anxiety were not related to changes in cannabis use. Impulsivity is a significant factor for the maintenance of cannabis use in emerging adulthood, with higher lack of premeditation for males and higher sensation seeking for females among fluctuating and persistent users.ConclusionsResults are discussed in terms of maintenance of use and the spiral of consumption, including clinical implications for prevention and interventions.     

Schémas cognitifs, croyances addictives et défenses dans la consommation et l’addiction au cannabis de jeunes adultes

Theoretical background

Integrating the cognitive approaches based on the model of Beck et al. (1993) information treatment, the Young (1994) model of maladapted schemas, the integrative approach of Plutchik (1995) and the clinical approach based on defense mechanisms (Bond, 1995), this study aimed at investigating: (a) the role of the hyperactivated maladapted schemas, (b) the addictive beliefs, (c) the suractivation of the conscious derives of defensive mechanisms and (d) the relationships between these cognitive and defensive variables, in young people's cannabis intensity addiction.

Method

Forty-four young adults, 25 females and 19 males, have completed a self-reported questionnaire estimating: (a) the intensity of cannabis addiction (Décamps et al., 2008), (b) the Rusinek (2006) adaptation of Young's maladapted schemas and (c) the questionnaire of addictive beliefs of Tison and Hautekeete (1998) and the defensive styles questionnaire of Bond et al. (1983) and Bond (1995). Non-parametric statistical analysis has been conducted on three subject's groups (“non-users”, “users non addicted”, “users-addicted”) to test the implications and the links between hypothesized psychological factors (e.g., schemas, beliefs and defences) in cannabis use intensity.

Results and discussion

The intensity of cannabis addiction is correlated significantly with: (a) an hyperactivation of three maladapted schemas: inadequate autocontrol, dependence and fear of lose the control, (b) a hyperactivation of permissive, anticipatory and relief oriented beliefs and (c) a higher activation of the defence “sublimation” and a lower activation of the “displacement”. “sublimation” is correlated with the global activation of 13 schemas that are correlated with the positive relief-oriented beliefs, which are correlated with the “displacement” defence, which is correlated with the anticipatory beliefs. The results showed that the permissive beliefs have the power to differentiate the “non-consumption”, the “consumption without addiction” and “the addiction” to cannabis. Our interpretation displays that greater attention to the dysfunctional beliefs will be required in future researches and should be essential targets in cognitive therapy of this substance use disorder.