Preliminary, open-label, pilot study of add-on oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.
Pablo Roitman, Raphael Mechoulam, Rena Cooper-Kazaz, Arieh Shalev
Clinical drug investigation August 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s40261-014-0212-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open-label study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Outpatients with chronic PTSD on stable medication |
| Dose | 5 mg twice a day |
| Topics | Cannabis PTSD |
| Key points | In 10 outpatients with chronic PTSD, add-on oral delta-9-THC at 5 mg twice daily produced statistically significant improvements in global symptom severity, sleep quality, nightmare frequency, and hyperarousal symptoms, with only mild adverse effects in three patients and no discontinuations. The authors conclude that oral THC was safe and well tolerated in this population. |
Abstract
Many patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) achieve but partial remission with current treatments. Patients with unremitted PTSD show high rates of substance abuse. Marijuana is often used as compassion add-on therapy for treatment-resistant PTSD. This open-label study evaluates the tolerance and safety of orally absorbable Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for chronic PTSD. Ten outpatients with chronic PTSD, on stable medication, received 5 mg of Δ(9)-THC twice a day as add-on treatment. There were mild adverse effects in three patients, none of which led to treatment discontinuation. The intervention caused a statistically significant improvement in global symptom severity, sleep quality, frequency of nightmares, and PTSD hyperarousal symptoms. Orally absorbable Δ(9)-THC was safe and well tolerated by patients with chronic PTSD.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 18
- Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology March 12, 2020
- The short-term impact of 3 smoked cannabis preparations versus placebo on PTSD symptoms: A randomized cross-over clinical trial PLoS One March 17, 2021
- Diverse therapeutic developments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) indicate common mechanisms of memory modulation. Pharmacology & Therapeutics November 1, 2022
- Assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics 2022
- The Efficacy of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Managing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A New Frontier? Cureus October 31, 2022
and 13 more in the library
Cites 4
- Mitigation of post‐traumatic stress symptoms by Cannabis resin: A review of the clinical and neurobiological evidence Drug Testing and Analysis June 26, 2012
- PTSD symptom reports of patients evaluated for the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 2014
- Endocannabinoid system dysfunction in mood and related disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica October 2011
- A controlled study of imagery rehearsal for chronic nightmares in sexual assault survivors with PTSD: a preliminary report. Journal of Traumatic Stress October 1, 2000