Comorbid mental disorders in the current analysis included mainly anxiety disorders (panic disorder, PTSD, generalised anxiety disorders, Agoraphobia). Previous biological and genetic studies found a rather weak biological relationship between endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) functioning [37] or genetics of CUD and anxiety disorders [38], even after controlling for several confounding factors [37]. In comparison, a stronger genetic relationship between affective disorders and ECS has been reported [38]. Recent research also demonstrates that the genetic predisposition for CUD polygenic scores for cannabis phenotypes predicted psychotic disorders independently of other psychiatric disorders [39]. Together these results support the hypothesis that there is little biological or genetic relationship between the ECS and anxiety-related disorders.
