Study register · detailMatched Case-Control-Querschnittsstudie · PTSD · 2016
Mental health symptom severity in cannabis using and non-using Veterans with probable PTSD.
Johnson et al.·Journal of Affective DisordersImpact 4.3
No benefit demonstratedGRADEVery low40 citations
Samplen = 94 Pat.
ControlNon-users
EndpointPCL-C
Blindingn.a.
DesignMatched Case-Control-Querschnittsstudie
”Key finding
Cannabis use was not associated with lower PTSD symptom severity; PCL-C values did not differ between users and non-users.
Summary
n=94 cannabis users vs. n=94 age- and gender-matched non-users among veterans with probable PTSD; mean PCL-C scores: users 59,2 vs. non-users 59,1 (no significant difference); no association between PTSD score and cannabis use frequency; result argues against the hypothesis that cannabis use is associated with lower PTSD symptom severity.
P
PopulationVeterans with probable PTSD, cases (cannabis users) and controls (non-users) matched by age and gender
I
InterventionCannabis use (self-reported, case group)
C
ControlNon-users (matched by age and gender)
O
OutcomeNo significant difference in PCL-C scores between cannabis users and non-users (59,2 vs. 59,1; no significant p-value reported); no association between PTSD severity and frequency of use
Confidence in the evidence
Very lowLowModerateHigh
Very low
The lowest GRADE level, the effect estimate remains uncertain.
Downgraded for
Imprecision
Quality profile
Sample size★★★★★
Blinding—
Effect sizeNo benefit
Citations / year★★★★★
Authors
Johnson MJ, Pierce JD, Mavandadi S, Klaus J, Defelice D, Ingram E, Oslin DW.
<h4>Background</h4>Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disabling illness suffered by many Veterans returning from war. Some Veterans believe that cannabis may be therapeutic for PTSD. The purpose of this study was to better understand the association between cannabis use and PTSD symptoms.<h4>Methods</h4>The study was a matched case-control cross-sectional evaluation of the psychiatric and sociocultural associations of cannabis use in Veterans with probable PTSD. Patient self-report measures were examined comparing cannabis users (cases) to non-users (controls) who were case-matched on age and gender.<h4>Results</h4>Results indicated that there were no significant differences between cases and controls in mean PTSD Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) scores (59.2 and 59.1, respectively). There was also no association between PTSD scores and frequency of cannabis use. It was also observed that cases were more likely to be non-Caucasian, financially challenged, and unmarried.<h4>Limitations</h4>The sample is a convenience sample of Veterans being referred for a clinical assessment and therefore, sampling biases may limit the generalizability of the results to other populations including Veterans not seeking health care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) system.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The results do not support the theory that cannabis use would be associated with less severe PTSD symptoms. Results do suggest important sociocultural differences in cannabis users compared to controls.