Study register · detailQuerschnittsstudie (Fragebogen) · Chronic Pain · 2014
Therapeutic satisfaction and subjective effects of different strains of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis.
Brunt et al.·Journal of Clinical PsychopharmacologyImpact 1.6
Clear benefitGRADELow65 citations
Samplen = 102 Pat.
Durationmore than one year in 76% of…
EndpointTherapeutic satisfaction
Blindingn.a.
DesignQuerschnittsstudie (Fragebogen)
Cannabinoidvollspektrum
”Key finding
The majority of patients reported high therapeutic satisfaction, with certain subjective effects differing between cannabis varieties with different THC/CBD content.
Summary
Cross-sectional study (n=102) in Dutch patients with pharmaceutically-qualified cannabis; chronic pain most common indication (53%; n=54); 86% reported (almost) always therapeutic satisfaction with use; subjective pain relief as main outcome; no control group, no effect size calculation.
P
PopulationAdult patients with medical cannabis prescription (predominantly chronic pain and multiple sclerosis), n=102, mean age 53 years
I
InterventionPharmaceutically manufactured cannabis (different varieties with varying THC/CBD content), inhaled or oral, naturalistic setting
O
Outcome86% of patients reported (almost) always therapeutic satisfaction; dejection, anxiety and appetite stimulation differed significantly between the 3 varieties
Confidence in the evidence
Very lowLowModerateHigh
Low
The second of four GRADE levels, the effect estimate is of limited reliability.
Quality profile
Sample size★★★★★
Blinding—
Effect sizeClear benefit
Citations / year★★★★★
Authors
Brunt TM, van Genugten M, Höner-Snoeken K, van de Velde MJ, Niesink RJ.
In The Netherlands, pharmaceutical-grade cultivated cannabis is distributed for medicinal purposes as commissioned by the Ministry of Health. Few studies have thus far described its therapeutic efficacy or subjective (adverse) effects in patients. The aims of this study are to assess the therapeutic satisfaction within a group of patients using prescribed pharmaceutical-grade cannabis and to compare the subjective effects among the available strains with special focus on their delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol content. In a cross-sectional and natural design, users of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis were investigated with questionnaires. Medical background of the patients was asked as well as experienced therapeutic effects and characteristics of cannabis use. Subjective effects were measured with psychometric scales and used to compare among the strains of cannabis used across this group of patients. One hundred two patients were included; their average age was 53 years and 76% used it for more than a year preceding this study. Chronic pain (53%; n = 54) was the most common medical indication for using cannabis followed by multiple sclerosis (23%; n = 23), and 86% (n = 88) of patients (almost) always experienced therapeutic satisfaction when using pharmaceutical cannabis. Dejection, anxiety, and appetite stimulation were found to differ among the 3 strains of cannabis. These results show that patients report therapeutic satisfaction with pharmaceutical cannabis, mainly pain alleviation. Some subjective effects were found to differ among the available strains of cannabis, which is discussed in relation to their different tetrahydrocannabinol/cannabidiol content. These results may aid in further research and critical appraisal for medicinally prescribed cannabis products.