Cannabinoid modulation of corticolimbic activation to threat in trauma-exposed adults: a preliminary study.
Christine A Rabinak, Ashley Blanchette, Nicole L Zabik, Craig A Peters, Hilary A Marusak, Allesandra Iadipaolo, Farrah Elrahal
Psychopharmacology June 2020 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05499-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 71 |
| Population | Adults in three groups: non-trauma-exposed healthy controls (n=25), trauma-exposed adults without PTSD (n=27), and trauma-exposed adults with PTSD (n=19) |
| Intervention | THC |
| Dose | low dose |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Amygdala Cannabinoid Prefrontal cortex Threat processing |
| Key findings | In adults with PTSD, an acute low dose of THC lowered threat-related amygdala reactivity, increased medial prefrontal cortex activation during threat, and increased mPFC-amygdala functional coupling. The authors present these as preliminary data suggesting THC modulates threat-related processing in trauma-exposed individuals with PTSD and may be advantageous as a pharmacological approach to treating stress- and trauma-related psychopathology. |
Abstract
Excessive fear and anxiety, coupled with corticolimbic dysfunction, are core features of stress- and trauma-related psychopathology, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interestingly, low doses of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can produce anxiolytic effects, reduce threat-related amygdala activation, and enhance functional coupling between the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex and adjacent rostral cingulate cortex (mPFC/rACC) during threat processing in healthy adults. Together, these findings suggest the cannabinoid system as a potential pharmacological target in the treatment of excess fear and anxiety. However, the effects of THC on corticolimbic functioning in response to threat have not be investigated in adults with trauma-related psychopathology. To address this gap, the present study tests the effects of an acute low dose of THC on corticolimbic responses to threat in three groups of adults: (1) non-trauma-exposed healthy controls (HC; n = 25), (2) trauma-exposed adults without PTSD (TEC; n = 27), and (3) trauma-exposed adults with PTSD (n = 19). Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects design, 71 participants were randomly assigned to receive either THC or placebo (PBO) and subsequently completed a well-established threat processing paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging. In adults with PTSD, THC lowered threat-related amygdala reactivity, increased mPFC activation during threat, and increased mPFC-amygdala functional coupling. These preliminary data suggest that THC modulates threat-related processing in trauma-exposed individuals with PTSD, which may prove advantageous as a pharmacological approach to treating stress- and trauma-related psychopathology.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A State-of-the-art Review. Current Neuropharmacology 2024
- Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 2022
- Treatment Approaches for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Derived From Basic Research on Fear Extinction. Biological Psychiatry February 15, 2025
- Impaired mnemonic pattern separation associated with PTSD symptoms paradoxically improves with regular cannabis use npj Mental Health Research April 24, 2025
- The Endocannabinoid System in PTSD: Molecular Targets for Modulating Fear and Anxiety. Pharmacopsychiatry March 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 12
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and 7 more in the library