Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review
While the recreational use of cannabis has well-established dose-dependent effects on neurocognitive and psychomotor functioning, there is little consensus on the degree and duration of impairment typically seen with medical marijuana use. Compared to recreational cannabis users, medical cannabis pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.638962/full |
| _version_ | 1829531421681647616 |
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| author | Lauren Eadie Lindsay A. Lo April Christiansen Jeffrey R. Brubacher Alasdair M. Barr Alasdair M. Barr William J. Panenka William J. Panenka William J. Panenka Caroline A. MacCallum |
| author_facet | Lauren Eadie Lindsay A. Lo April Christiansen Jeffrey R. Brubacher Alasdair M. Barr Alasdair M. Barr William J. Panenka William J. Panenka William J. Panenka Caroline A. MacCallum |
| author_sort | Lauren Eadie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While the recreational use of cannabis has well-established dose-dependent effects on neurocognitive and psychomotor functioning, there is little consensus on the degree and duration of impairment typically seen with medical marijuana use. Compared to recreational cannabis users, medical cannabis patients have distinct characteristics that may modify the presence and extent of impairment. The goal of this review was to determine the duration of acute neurocognitive impairment associated with medical cannabis use, and to identify differences between medical cannabis patients and recreational users. These findings are used to gain insight on how medical professionals can best advise medical cannabis patients with regards to automobile driving or safety-sensitive tasks at work. A systematic electronic search for English language randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials and systematic reviews (in order to capture any potentially missed RCTs) between 2000 and 2019 was conducted through Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases using MeSH terms. Articles were limited to medical cannabis patients using cannabis for chronic non-cancer pain or spasticity. After screening titles and abstracts, 37 relevant studies were subjected to full-text review. Overall, seven controlled trials met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis: six RCTs and one observational clinical trial. Neurocognitive testing varied significantly between all studies, including the specific tests administered and the timing of assessments post-cannabis consumption. In general, cognitive performance declined mostly in a THC dose-dependent manner, with steady resolution of impairment in the hours following THC administration. Doses of THC were lower than those typically reported in recreational cannabis studies. In all the studies, there was no difference between any of the THC groups and placebo on any neurocognitive measure after 4 h of recovery. Variability in the dose-dependent relationship raises the consideration that there are other important factors contributing to the duration of neurocognitive impairment besides the dose of THC ingested. These modifiable and non-modifiable factors are individually discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:21:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd305a1cae21402898c111c60a1ca53d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T18:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd305a1cae21402898c111c60a1ca53d2022-12-21T22:21:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402021-03-011210.3389/fpsyt.2021.638962638962Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping ReviewLauren Eadie0Lindsay A. Lo1April Christiansen2Jeffrey R. Brubacher3Alasdair M. Barr4Alasdair M. Barr5William J. Panenka6William J. Panenka7William J. Panenka8Caroline A. MacCallum9Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Queens University, Kingston, ON, CanadaCentre for Neuroscience Studies, Queens University, Kingston, ON, CanadaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Mental Health and Substance Use Services Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaBritish Columbia Provincial Neuropsychiatry Program, Vancouver, BC, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaWhile the recreational use of cannabis has well-established dose-dependent effects on neurocognitive and psychomotor functioning, there is little consensus on the degree and duration of impairment typically seen with medical marijuana use. Compared to recreational cannabis users, medical cannabis patients have distinct characteristics that may modify the presence and extent of impairment. The goal of this review was to determine the duration of acute neurocognitive impairment associated with medical cannabis use, and to identify differences between medical cannabis patients and recreational users. These findings are used to gain insight on how medical professionals can best advise medical cannabis patients with regards to automobile driving or safety-sensitive tasks at work. A systematic electronic search for English language randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials and systematic reviews (in order to capture any potentially missed RCTs) between 2000 and 2019 was conducted through Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases using MeSH terms. Articles were limited to medical cannabis patients using cannabis for chronic non-cancer pain or spasticity. After screening titles and abstracts, 37 relevant studies were subjected to full-text review. Overall, seven controlled trials met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis: six RCTs and one observational clinical trial. Neurocognitive testing varied significantly between all studies, including the specific tests administered and the timing of assessments post-cannabis consumption. In general, cognitive performance declined mostly in a THC dose-dependent manner, with steady resolution of impairment in the hours following THC administration. Doses of THC were lower than those typically reported in recreational cannabis studies. In all the studies, there was no difference between any of the THC groups and placebo on any neurocognitive measure after 4 h of recovery. Variability in the dose-dependent relationship raises the consideration that there are other important factors contributing to the duration of neurocognitive impairment besides the dose of THC ingested. These modifiable and non-modifiable factors are individually discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.638962/fullcannabinoidsmedical cannabistetrahydrocannabinolcannabidiolpainimpairment |
| spellingShingle | Lauren Eadie Lindsay A. Lo April Christiansen Jeffrey R. Brubacher Alasdair M. Barr Alasdair M. Barr William J. Panenka William J. Panenka William J. Panenka Caroline A. MacCallum Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review Frontiers in Psychiatry cannabinoids medical cannabis tetrahydrocannabinol cannabidiol pain impairment |
| title | Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review |
| title_full | Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review |
| title_fullStr | Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review |
| title_short | Duration of Neurocognitive Impairment With Medical Cannabis Use: A Scoping Review |
| title_sort | duration of neurocognitive impairment with medical cannabis use a scoping review |
| topic | cannabinoids medical cannabis tetrahydrocannabinol cannabidiol pain impairment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.638962/full |
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