# A prospective study of posttraumatic stress symptom development and cannabis use among trauma exposed injured emerging adults following Emergency Department discharge

> **NIH NIH P20** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2024 · $431,773

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Individuals who experience traumatic physical injury are at a heightened risk for a range of negative outcomes
such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance misuse. The early post-trauma period (i.e., the
days, weeks, and months following exposure) represents a critical period of recovery and may be especially
important for understanding symptom development among emerging adults (aged 18-25), who are
characterized by a developmental peak in substance use behaviors and an increased risk for trauma exposure
and injury. As regional laws, cultures, and beliefs about cannabis use (CU) continue to shift, there is concern
that traumatic injury may result in escalations in cannabis use, as many individuals report using cannabis to
relieve distress, hyperarousal, and other post-trauma symptoms. Furthermore, while the majority of US states
that have legalized cannabis for medical use include outcomes of stress and trauma (such as PTSD) as
qualifying conditions for a state-issued medical marijuana license, little is known about how CU may impact the
early post-trauma course, including development of PTSD and other stress-related outcomes such as
depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. Despite the known role of the endocannabinoid system in
regulating the stress response, limited (and contradicting) evidence exists regarding safety and efficacy of
cannabis precludes strong conclusions about its role during acute post-trauma recovery, with some
prospective studies demonstrating detrimental or no long-term effects of CU on PTSD symptoms. The
overarching goals of the proposed study are to characterize CU as related to post-trauma symptoms and
cannabis misuse during the period immediately following trauma exposure among a sample of injured
emerging adults. We will recruit N=100 trauma-exposed cannabis users (aged 18-25) presenting to the
Emergency Department for evaluation after acute injury (e.g., physical assault, serious vehicular crashes).
Upon discharge, participants will complete 4-weeks of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to record CU
behavior and PTSD symptom development, paired with passive collection of physiological output (heart rate)
via wearable biosensors (smartwatch) to monitor physiology. Participants will return for completion of clinical
interview and self-report of symptoms at 4-weeks and 6-months post-discharge. The main objectives of this
research are to: (a) characterize the course of PTSD symptom development, physiology, and cannabis use
during the acute post-trauma period and (b) evaluate effects of the acute post-trauma response on long term
development of PTSD and other stress sensitive outcomes (depression, anxiety, cannabis misuse) at 6-month
follow-up.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10766225
- **Project number:** 5P20GM139664-03
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Leslie Ann Daline Brick
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $431,773
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-04-01 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10766225

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10766225, A prospective study of posttraumatic stress symptom development and cannabis use among trauma exposed injured emerging adults following Emergency Department discharge (5P20GM139664-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10766225. Licensed CC0.

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