Study register · detail
Preliminary, Open-Label, Pilot Study of Add-On Oral Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
No direction reported
Samplen = 10
Summary
Open pilot study (no control arm, n=10 patients with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD) with oral Δ9-THC (2x 5 mg/day) as add-on therapy. Significant improvement in global symptom severity, sleep quality, nightmare frequency and hyperarousal; only mild side effects in 3 patients, no discontinuations. Preliminary evidence: very small, uncontrolled sample, primarily a tolerability and safety endpoint.
Quality profile
Sample size
★★★★★
Blinding
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Effect size
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Citations / year
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Abstract
<h4>Background and objectives</h4>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. Cannabis 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.<h4>Methods</h4>Ten outpatients with chronic PTSD, on stable medication, received 5 mg of Δ(9)-THC twice a day as add-on treatment.<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Orally absorbable Δ(9)-THC was safe and well tolerated by patients with chronic PTSD.
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