Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review
Introduction: Existing reviews exploring cannabis effectiveness have numerous limitations including narrow search strategies. We systematically explored cannabis effects on PTSD symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and return to work (RTW). We also investigated harm outcomes such as adverse effects and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIMS Press
2021-05-01
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| Series: | AIMS Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2021022?viewType=HTML |
| _version_ | 1818890936662360064 |
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| author | Yasir Rehman Amreen Saini Sarina Huang Emma Sood Ravneet Gill Sezgi Yanikomeroglu |
| author_facet | Yasir Rehman Amreen Saini Sarina Huang Emma Sood Ravneet Gill Sezgi Yanikomeroglu |
| author_sort | Yasir Rehman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction:
Existing reviews exploring cannabis effectiveness have numerous limitations including narrow search strategies. We systematically explored cannabis effects on PTSD symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and return to work (RTW). We also investigated harm outcomes such as adverse effects and dropouts due to adverse effects, inefficacy, and all-cause dropout rates.
Methods:
Our search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and PubMed databases, yielded 1 eligible RCT and 10 observational studies (n = 4672). Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and ROBINS-I.
Results:
Evidence from the included studies was mainly based on non-randomized studies with no comparators. Results from unpooled, high RoB studies showed that cannabis was associated with a reduction in overall PTSD symptoms and improved QOL. Dry mouth, headaches, and psychoactive effects such as agitation and euphoria were the commonly reported adverse effects. In most studies, cannabis was well tolerated, but small proportions of patients experienced a worsening of PTSD symptoms.
Conclusion:
Evidence in the current study primarily stems from low quality and high RoB observational studies. Further RCTs investigating cannabis effects on PTSD treatment should be conducted with larger sample sizes and explore a broader range of patient-important outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:32:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3e7606963ca46a4b20b99ae8573d01e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2373-7972 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T17:32:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3e7606963ca46a4b20b99ae8573d01e2022-12-21T20:12:24ZengAIMS PressAIMS Neuroscience2373-79722021-05-018341443410.3934/Neuroscience.2021022Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic reviewYasir Rehman0Amreen Saini1Sarina Huang 2Emma Sood3Ravneet Gill4Sezgi Yanikomeroglu51. Health Research Methodology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 2. Michael DeGroote Institute of Pain and Research Center, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 3. Canadian Academy of Osteopathy, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada4. Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada5. Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada4. Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada4. Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada5. Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CanadaIntroduction: Existing reviews exploring cannabis effectiveness have numerous limitations including narrow search strategies. We systematically explored cannabis effects on PTSD symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and return to work (RTW). We also investigated harm outcomes such as adverse effects and dropouts due to adverse effects, inefficacy, and all-cause dropout rates. Methods: Our search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and PubMed databases, yielded 1 eligible RCT and 10 observational studies (n = 4672). Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool and ROBINS-I. Results: Evidence from the included studies was mainly based on non-randomized studies with no comparators. Results from unpooled, high RoB studies showed that cannabis was associated with a reduction in overall PTSD symptoms and improved QOL. Dry mouth, headaches, and psychoactive effects such as agitation and euphoria were the commonly reported adverse effects. In most studies, cannabis was well tolerated, but small proportions of patients experienced a worsening of PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: Evidence in the current study primarily stems from low quality and high RoB observational studies. Further RCTs investigating cannabis effects on PTSD treatment should be conducted with larger sample sizes and explore a broader range of patient-important outcomes.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2021022?viewType=HTMLptsdcannabisthcnabilonesymptoms reductionfunctional improvementsystematic reviewmeta-analysiscannabinoid |
| spellingShingle | Yasir Rehman Amreen Saini Sarina Huang Emma Sood Ravneet Gill Sezgi Yanikomeroglu Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review AIMS Neuroscience ptsd cannabis thc nabilone symptoms reduction functional improvement systematic review meta-analysis cannabinoid |
| title | Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review |
| title_full | Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review |
| title_short | Cannabis in the management of PTSD: a systematic review |
| title_sort | cannabis in the management of ptsd a systematic review |
| topic | ptsd cannabis thc nabilone symptoms reduction functional improvement systematic review meta-analysis cannabinoid |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2021022?viewType=HTML |
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