ArticleWomen's health (London, England)
Psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns: A cross-sectional survey study.
Article in Women's health (London, England). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.
- "1, 2, 3, Release": Cannabis Consumption and Mental Health and Well-Being During Pregnancy, Lactation and Parenthood.Cannabis (Albuquerque, N.M.) · 2026Article
- Perceptions of Cannabis Use and Its Benefits and Risks Among Breastfeeding Mothers.Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.) · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUse of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding is increasing. Mental health concerns are reported as common reasons for maternal cannabis use, but little is known about the use of psychiatric medications in this population.
objectivesThis study aimed to describe psychiatric medication use among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns.
designAnonymous, online cross-sectional survey.
methodsData were collected from May 2018 to August 2019 among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who used cannabis. This study included mothers who reported cannabis use for mental health concerns (n = 1363). The survey assessed the timing of cannabis use (during pregnancy and/or lactation); use of cannabis to address depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or anxiety; use of psychiatric medications; psychiatric distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4); and demographic information. Differences between groups were examined using t-test and chi-square test in SPSS.
resultsThe mean age was 29.7 years; most were married (62%); 74% were White non-Hispanic, 9% Hispanic, and 17% Black, Indigenous or other People of Color. Mental health symptoms prompting cannabis use included anxiety (96%), depression (75%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (36%). Only 24% of respondents (n = 322) reported concomitant use of psychiatric medications, primarily selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (72%, n = 232) and benzodiazepines (21%, n = 68). The composite Patient Health Questionnaire-4 showed most respondents had no (61%) or mild (27%) psychological distress; 14% screened positive for depression; and 17% screened positive for anxiety. Respondents who used psychiatric medications more often screened positive mental health concerns.
conclusionMost mothers who used cannabis for mental health concerns were not taking psychiatric medications. This may be due to a mismatch between perceived mental health and screening results, un- or under-treated mental illness, or preference for cannabis over psychiatric medications. Improved management of perinatal mental health and effective patient education about risks of cannabis versus medication use are needed.
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