Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD

Targeting the endocannabinoid system may have a role in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of cannabis on symptoms of PTSD, and more research is needed to ascertain cannabis’ effectiveness. In this retrospective naturalistic s...

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Main Authors: Nitsa Nacasch, Chen Avni, Paz Toren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1014630/full
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author Nitsa Nacasch
Chen Avni
Paz Toren
Paz Toren
author_facet Nitsa Nacasch
Chen Avni
Paz Toren
Paz Toren
author_sort Nitsa Nacasch
collection DOAJ
description Targeting the endocannabinoid system may have a role in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of cannabis on symptoms of PTSD, and more research is needed to ascertain cannabis’ effectiveness. In this retrospective naturalistic study, we followed 14 relatively mature (32-68 years of age), treatment-resistant, chronic combat post-traumatic patients who remained severely symptomatic despite treatment with many lines of conventional treatment prior to receiving medicinal cannabis. Our findings show that total sleep score, subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration significantly improved (p < 0.01). Total PTSD symptom score and its subdomains (intrusiveness, avoidance, and alertness) showed improvement (p < 0.05). However, there was no improvement in the frequency of nightmares (p = 0.27). The mean follow-up time was 1.1 ± 0.8 years (range of 0.5 to 3 years).
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spelling doaj.art-e1ff89fee95c4f9fa4f32509ec2edd642023-01-19T07:49:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402023-01-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.10146301014630Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSDNitsa Nacasch0Chen Avni1Paz Toren2Paz Toren3Clalit Health Services Community Division, Ramat-Chen Brull Mental Health Center, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelClalit Health Services Community Division, Ramat-Chen Brull Mental Health Center, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelClalit Health Services Community Division, Ramat-Chen Brull Mental Health Center, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelSackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, IsraelTargeting the endocannabinoid system may have a role in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, few studies have examined the effectiveness of cannabis on symptoms of PTSD, and more research is needed to ascertain cannabis’ effectiveness. In this retrospective naturalistic study, we followed 14 relatively mature (32-68 years of age), treatment-resistant, chronic combat post-traumatic patients who remained severely symptomatic despite treatment with many lines of conventional treatment prior to receiving medicinal cannabis. Our findings show that total sleep score, subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration significantly improved (p < 0.01). Total PTSD symptom score and its subdomains (intrusiveness, avoidance, and alertness) showed improvement (p < 0.05). However, there was no improvement in the frequency of nightmares (p = 0.27). The mean follow-up time was 1.1 ± 0.8 years (range of 0.5 to 3 years).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1014630/fullcannabispost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)treatment-resistantcombat PTSDposttraumatic diagnostic scale (PDS)pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)
spellingShingle Nitsa Nacasch
Chen Avni
Paz Toren
Paz Toren
Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
Frontiers in Psychiatry
cannabis
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
treatment-resistant
combat PTSD
posttraumatic diagnostic scale (PDS)
pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)
title Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
title_full Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
title_fullStr Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
title_full_unstemmed Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
title_short Medical cannabis for treatment-resistant combat PTSD
title_sort medical cannabis for treatment resistant combat ptsd
topic cannabis
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
treatment-resistant
combat PTSD
posttraumatic diagnostic scale (PDS)
pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1014630/full
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AT paztoren medicalcannabisfortreatmentresistantcombatptsd