Data Management and Visualization
Data Management and Visualization by Wesleyan University - Assignment(Week 1): Developing a Research Question and Creating a Personal Code Book
Introduction:
After reviewing the codebook of NESARC, a survey of over 43093 U.S. citizens (over the age of 18) designed to determine the magnitude of alcohol use and psychiatric disorders, I found myself particularly interested in cannabis use disorders. More specifically, I aim to examine the patterns of association between cannabis use, major depression, and general anxiety disorder diagnosed in the last 12 months. Nowadays, cannabis is the most widely consumed drug in many countries. However, there is also a medical use of it. It has been estimated that around 10% of people who use cannabis will depend on it. [4] It is common knowledge that there is a strong relationship between mental disorders and alcohol abuse. Therefore, it is interesting whether cannabis’ frequent use co-occurs with depression and generalized anxiety.
Research Question:
Is cannabis use associated with major depression and general anxiety disorder diagnoses in the last 12 months?
Hypothesis:
Despite the fact that several studies have examined issues relevant to cannabis abuse disorders, it's difficult to decide if cannabis use leads to psychiatric illnesses. At this point, it is necessary to separate cannabis use from a heavier involvement with the drug (dependence/abuse). My personal belief is that cannabis use increases the likelihood of depression symptoms and anxiety disorders, however not as significantly as cannabis abuse/dependence, which could cause mental disorders like the ones mentioned above.
NESARC Codebook Sections and Variables:
After looking through the NESARC codebook, firstly I decided to take into consideration the unique identification number ( IDNUM ) and the variable (AGE) from the background information ( SECTION 1 ) of the sample, in order to make my findings more reliable. Furthermore for the first question topic I chose, from the drug/medicine use section ( SECTION 3B ), to include information like the percentage of people who ever used cannabis ( S3BQ1A5 ), as well as the period of this use -last 12 months / prior to last 12 months / both periods- ( S3BD5Q2B ) and the frequency of it when using the most ( S3BD5Q2E ). As far as the second topic is concerned, I selected the variable of non-hierarchical major depression diagnoses, in the last 12 months ( MAJORDEP12 ) and the variable of non-hierarchical generalized anxiety diagnoses, in the last 12 months ( GENAXDX12 ), which are included in the diagnoses section ( SECTION 14 ).
SECTION 1 variables : IDNUM , AGE
SECTION 3B variables:S3BQ1A5 ,S3BD5Q2B , S3BD5Q2E
SECTION 14 variables: MAJORDEP12,GENAXDX12
Literature review:
Considering the literature review I performed using Google Scholar, I found several academic studies and research on the relationship between cannabis use, depression, and anxiety. There was a moderate association between involvement with cannabis use in the past 12 months and the prevalence of affective and anxiety disorders. Among those with DSM-IV cannabis dependence, 14 % had affective disorder symptoms, compared to 6 % of non-users, while 17 % met the criteria for an anxiety disorder, compared to 5 % of non-users [4]. After including demographics, neuroticism, and other drug use in multiple regressions, these associations did not remain significant. Cannabis use did not appear to be directly related to depression or anxiety when the account was taken of other drug use. However, the association between heavier involvement with cannabis use and affective and anxiety disorders has implications for treating persons with problematic cannabis use [4].
References:
Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., & Lynskey, M. (2003). Exploring the association between cannabis use and depression. Addiction, 98(11), 1493-1504.
Hayatbakhsh, M. R., Najman, J. M., Jamrozik, K., Mamun, A. A., Alati, R., & Bor, W. (2007). Cannabis and anxiety and depression in young adults: a large prospective study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(3), 408-417.
Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., & Lynskey, M. (2001). Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use among Australians: a comparison of their associations with other drug use and use disorders, affective and anxiety disorders, and psychosis. Addiction, 96(11), 1603-1614.
Degenhardt, L., Hall, W., & Lynskey, M. (2001). The relationship between cannabis use, depression and anxiety among Australian adults: findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 36(5), 219-227.













