Using Mendelian Randomization Analysis to Better Understand the Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Use: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background
Poor mental health has consistently been associated with substance use (smoking, alcohol use, cannabis use, and consumption of caffeinated drinks). To properly inform public health policy it is crucial to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations, and most importantly, whether or not they are causal.
Methods
In this pre-registered systematic review, the researchers assessed the evidence for causal relationships between mental health and substance use from Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, following PRISMA. They rated the quality of included studies using a scoring system that incorporates important indices of quality, such as the quality of phenotype measurement, instrument strength, and use of sensitivity methods.
Results
Sixty-three studies were included for qualitative synthesis. The final quality rating was ‘−’ for 16 studies, ‘– +’ for 37 studies, and ‘+’for 10 studies. There was robust evidence that higher educational attainment decreases smoking and that there is a bi-directional, increasing relationship between smoking and (symptoms of) mental disorders. Another robust finding was that higher educational attainment increases alcohol use frequency, but decreases binge-alcohol use and alcohol use problems, and that mental disorders causally lead to more alcohol use without evidence for the reverse.
Conclusions
The current MR literature increases understanding of the relationship between mental health and substance use. Bi-directional causal relationships are indicated, especially for smoking, providing further incentive to strengthen public health efforts to decrease substance use. Future MR studies should make use of large(r) samples in combination with detailed phenotypes, a wide range of sensitivity methods, and triangulate with other research methods.