The current findings add uniquely to extant scientific knowledge concerning marijuana use and panic psychopathology by addressing three key limitations of past work (see introduction). Such relations invite theorizing as to why such an association may exist by exploring the role of (a) marijuana in the onset and course of panic attacks and panic disorder and (b) panic psychopathology in the onset and course of marijuana use. That is, there may be distinct, but not mutually exclusive, pathways in the observed marijuana–panic psychopathology association (e.g., marijuana use leading to panic psychopathology or panic psychopathology leading to marijuana use). Although the present data cannot be used to disentangle or explicate such intriguing questions, it is striking that marijuana use can serve important affect regulatory functions (Bonn-Miller, Zvolensky, & Bernstein, 2007; Comeau, Stewart, & Loba, 2001; Zvolensky et al., 2009). Extrapolating from such work, it is possible that these marijuana-using individuals, such as those with panic attacks, may expect marijuana use to help alleviate aversive mood and somatosensory states and be particularly motivated to use for perceived or objective affect regulation purposes.
