Another study has indicated the potential for medicinal cannabis to assist patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
The new research involved analysis of data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, which is operated by Sapphire Medical Clinics. The data it captures from participating patients includes information such as prescribed formulations, adverse events and outcomes. This data is made available to the medical community for analysis on request.
This study examined health-related quality of life changes and adverse events in patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products for post-traumatic stress disorder. In terms of quality of life outcomes, these were assessed at 1-, 3-, and 6-months.
Of 162 included patients, a very high proportion were current or previous cannabis users – 88.89%. The median daily dosages being consumed were 5mg of cannabidiol (CBD) and 145mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The researchers noted significant improvements were observed in PTSD symptoms, sleep, and anxiety across all follow-up periods.
With regard to adverse events, these were fairly common. 220 adverse events were reported by 33 of the patients, but the majority of these were classified as mild or moderate in severity. The most common adverse events reported were insomnia and fatigue.
Among the conclusions of the analysis in relation to adverse events, the researchers suggest medical cannabis acceptability and safety up to 6 months.
“This study may inform randomized placebo-controlled trials, required to confirm causality and determine optimal dosing,” they state.
The study was published a couple of weeks ago in the journal Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology.
Medical cannabis being of potential benefit to PTSD sufferers could see many people helped. According to the USA’s National Center for PTSD, about 6 out of every 100 people will have PTSD at some point in their lives. For some, it will be a condition that is relatively short-lived; with recovery assisted by counselling or just the passage for time. For others, it will be a chronic, debilitating condition requiring more intense trauma-focused psychotherapy and medication.
On a related note, an earlier study based on UK Medical Cannabis Registry data suggested adult autism patients are also generally experiencing an improvement in quality of life through the use of cannabis medicines.
