Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Kevin Betthauser, Jeffrey Pilz, Laura E Vollmer
American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy August 1, 2015 DOI: 10.2146/ajhp140523 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Cross-sectional Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Military veterans meeting standard diagnostic criteria for PTSD |
| Interventions | Cannabis cannabis derivatives cannabinoids |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Key findings | The reviewed evidence indicates that substantial numbers of military veterans with PTSD use cannabis or derivative products to control symptoms, with some patients reporting reduced anxiety and insomnia and improved coping ability. Cross-sectional studies found more severe PTSD symptomatology correlated with increased motivation to use cannabis for coping, and four small studies suggested cannabinoid use was associated with global or specific symptom improvement. The authors call for large well-designed controlled trials to clarify cannabinoids' potential role as an adjunct or alternative to conventional PTSD management. |
Abstract
Published evidence regarding the use of cannabis and cannabis derivatives by military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is reviewed. When inhaled or delivered orally or transdermally, cannabinoids (the psychoactive components of unrefined marijuana and various derivative products) activate endogenous cannabinoid receptors, modulating neurotransmitter release and producing a wide range of central nervous system effects, including increased pleasure and alteration of memory processes. Those effects provide a pharmacologic rationale for the use of cannabinoids to manage the three core PTSD symptom clusters: reexperiencing, avoidance and numbing, and hyperarousal. A literature search identified 11 articles pertaining to cannabis use by military veterans who met standard diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Cross-sectional studies have found a direct correlation between more severe PTSD symptomatology and increased motivation to use cannabis for coping purposes, especially among patients with difficulties in emotional regulation or stress tolerance. Data from 4 small studies suggested that cannabinoid use was associated with global improvements in PTSD symptoms or amelioration of specific PTSD symptoms such as insomnia and nightmares. Large well-designed controlled trials are needed in order to better delineate the potential role of cannabinoids as an adjunct or alternative to conventional approaches to PTSD management. While further research into cannabinoid treatment effects on PTSD symptoms is required, the evaluated evidence indicates that substantial numbers of military veterans with PTSD use cannabis or derivative products to control PTSD symptoms, with some patients reporting benefits in terms of reduced anxiety and insomnia and improved coping ability.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. Journal of Ethnopharmacology December 5, 2018
- Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review BMC Psychiatry January 16, 2020
- Psychosocial treatments for nightmares in adults and children: a systematic review BMC Psychiatry April 21, 2023
- The Construct of Medical and Non-Medical Marijuana—Critical Review International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health February 27, 2022
- Dronabinol for nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Nature Medicine September 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 2
- Use of a synthetic cannabinoid in a correctional population for posttraumatic stress disorder-related insomnia and nightmares, chronic pain, harm reduction, and other indications: a retrospective evaluation. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology October 2014
- PTSD symptom reports of patients evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2014