Pubdate: Fri, 01 Apr 2016
Source: Register Citizen (CT)
Copyright: 2016 Register Citizen
Contact:  http://www.registercitizen.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/598
Cited: http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2504223

RESEARCH LINKS GENETICS TO MARIJUANA DEPENDENCE, DEPRESSION

NEW HAVEN - Dependence on marijuana may have a genetic basis, 
according to research at Yale University.

The study of more than 14,000 persons also found that a risk for 
dependence on marijuana may mean a higher chance of inheriting major 
depression, according to a release.

"We were surprised to find a genetic risk overlap between cannabis 
dependence and major depression," said Dr. Joel Gelernter, a 
psychiatrist and professor of genetics and neuroscience, who was 
senior author of the study. The research showed that both dependence 
on marijuana and depression could be inherited.

People who demonstrated dependence on cannabis were compared with 
others who had little or no sign of such dependence and it was found 
that several variations in genes could predict who would become 
dependent. This relationship is similar to the genetic risk for 
alcohol addiction, the release said.

Gelernter said the study could explain why people with schizophrenia 
often also are dependent on marijuana.

The study was published March 30 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom