The holistic effects of medical cannabis compared to opioids on pain experience in Finnish patients with chronic pain.
Jussi Jylkkä, Aleksi Hupli, Aleksandra Nikolaeva, Sandra Alanen, Anna Erika Back, Sara Lindqvist, Andreas Krabbe, Maya Lavie-Ajayi, Oskari Kantonen
Journal of Cannabis Research November 9, 2023 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-023-00207-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective survey with propensity score matching Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 201 |
| Population | Finnish chronic pain patients |
| Interventions | Medical cannabis Opioids |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Keywords | Chronic pain Consciousness Experience Functionality Medical cannabis Mood Negative side effects Opioids Psychoactive effects Wellbeing |
| Key findings | Medical cannabis and opioids are perceived as equally efficacious in reducing pain intensity, but medical cannabis additionally positively affects emotion, functionality, and overall sense of wellbeing. |
Abstract
Medical cannabis (MC) is increasingly used for chronic pain, but it is unclear how it aids in pain management. Previous literature suggests that MC could holistically alter the pain experience instead of only targeting pain intensity. However, this hypothesis has not been previously systematically tested. A retrospective internet survey was used in a sample of Finnish chronic pain patients (40 MC users and 161 opioid users). The patients evaluated statements describing positive and negative phenomenological effects of the medicine. The two groups were propensity score matched to control for possible confounding factors. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three experience factors: Negative Side Effects, Positive Holistic Effects, and Positive Emotional Effects. The MC group (matched n = 39) received higher scores than the opioid group (matched n = 39) in Positive Emotional Effects with large effect size (Rank-Biserial Correlation RBC = .71, p < .001), and in Holistic Positive Effects with medium effect size (RBC = .47, p < .001), with no difference in Negative Side Effects (p = .13). MC and opioids were perceived as equally efficacious in reducing pain intensity. Ratings of individual statements were exploratively examined in a post hoc analysis. MC and opioids were perceived to be equally efficacious in reducing pain intensity, but MC additionally positively affected broader pain-related factors such as emotion, functionality, and overall sense of wellbeing. This supports the hypothesis that MC alleviates pain through holistically altering the pain experience.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Cannabis, Consciousness, and Healing Contemporary Justice Review December 1, 2007
- Understanding feeling "high" and its role in medical cannabis patient outcomes. Frontiers in Pharmacology May 24, 2023
- An Observational, Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Medical Cannabis Patients over the Course of 12 Months of Treatment: Preliminary Results Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society July 1, 2021
- Cannabis analgesia in chronic neuropathic pain is associated with altered brain connectivity Neurology September 5, 2018
and 3 more in the library