Unspecified Cannabis-Related Disorder 519
Risk and Prognostic Factors
Environmental. Most likely, the prevalence and severity of cannabis withdrawal are
greater among heavier cannabis users, and part icularly among those seeking treatment for
cannabis use disorders. Withdrawal severity also appears to be positiv ely related to the se-
verity of comorbid sympto ms of mental disorders. 
Functional Consequences of Cannabis Withdrawal
Cannabis users report using cannabis to re lieve withdrawal symp toms, suggesting that
withdrawal might contribute to ongoing expr ession of cannabis use disorder. Worse out-
comes may be associated with greater withdraw al. A substantial proportion of adults and
adolescents in treatment for moderate to se vere cannabis use disorder acknowledge mod-
erate to severe withdrawal symptoms, and ma ny complain that these symptoms make ces-
sation more difficult. Cannabis users report having relapsed to cannabis use or initiating
use of other drugs (e.g., tranquilizers) to pr ovide relief from cannabis withdrawal symp-
toms. Last, individuals living with cannabis us ers observe significant withdrawal effects,
suggesting that such symptoms ar e disruptive to daily living. 
Differential Diagnosis
Because many of the symptoms of cannabis wi thdrawal are also symptoms of other sub-
stance withdrawal syndromes or of depressi ve or bipolar disorder s, careful evaluation
should focus on ensuring that the symptoms ar e not better explained by cessation from an-
other substance (e.g., tobacco or alcohol with drawal), another mental  disorder (general-
ized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder), or another medical condition.
Other Cannabis-Induced Disorders
The following cannabis-induced disorders are desc ribed in other chapters of the manual with
disorders with which they share phenomenology (see the substance/medication-induced