The severity of non-planning impulsivity and cannabis use problems in distinguishing patients with synthetic cannabinoid use disorder and cannabis use disorder

Objective: The present study aims to identify whether there is a difference between the synthetic cannabinoid (SC) and cannabis use disorder groups in terms of impulsivity and problems arising from substance use, as well as to determine the variables that distinguish SC use disorder cases from cannabis use disorder. Method: Fifty-two male patients with SC and 45 male patients with cannabis use disorder who were admitted to the AMATEM clinic of Bakirkoy Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. The participants were evaluated using the Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), Cannabis Use Problems Identification Test (CUPIT), Adult Cannabis Problems Questionnaire (CPQ), and Cannabis Withdrawal Scale (CWS). Results: The SC use disorder group had higher rates of unemployment, suicide, and self-mutilation than the cannabis use disorder group. The SC use disorder group scored significantly higher than those with cannabis use disorder in BIS-11, CUPIT, CPQ total score and sub-scale scores, and CWS score. Conclusion: It was shown in our study that cases with SC use disorder had a higher risk of impulsivity and problematic substance use than those with cannabis use disorder, and the CUPIT-B and non-planning impulsiveness sub-scales were also predictors of SC use disorder.