Comparison of Impulsivity, Sleep Disorder and Suicidal Thoughts among People with and without Marijuana Dependence

This study aimed to causally compare impulsivity, sleep disorder, and suicidal thoughts in marijuana users and non-users. The statistical population included students consuming marijuana as well as non-consuming students at the University of Gilan. Fifty male students consuming marijuana and another 50 in the age group of 18 to 33 years were selected by purposive and snowballs sampling and 50 non-consuming ones placed in each group. Participants completed the Bart (1995) Impulse Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (1989), and the Beck Suicide Thought Scale (1961), respectively. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance through SPSS-22 software. The results showed that marijuana users scored higher on all three subscales of impulsivity, i.e., cognitive, motor, and unplanned impulsivity, and showed a significant difference with the non-consumer group. In terms of sleep disorders, marijuana abusers showed significantly different from the non-consumers in six subscales out of seven subscales, i.e., mental quality, sleep delay, sufficient sleep, sleep disorders, hypnotic drug, and daily sleep disorders. Moreover, in the suicidal ideation scale, people with marijuana abuse had a higher mean score on the Beck suicidal thoughts scale. It was found out that the highest prevalence of severe depression was in participants using marijuana and that using marijuana, hostility, and anxiety were risk factors for developing severe depression. This result addressed an important gap in our knowledge of the different characteristics of depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression in various types of substance users and provides clinicians and policy-makers with directions for intervention and preventing relapse the research findings can be used in designing therapeutic interventions for people addicted to marijuana.