←Tourette Syndrome

Study register · detail Querschnittsbefragung / retrospektives Interview · Tourette Syndrome · 1998

Cannabinoids: possible role in patho-physiology and therapy of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Müller-Vahl et al. ·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

Clear benefit GRADE Very low 108 citations

Samplen = 64 Pat.

EndpointTic frequency/severity

Blindingn.a.

DesignQuerschnittsbefragung / retrospektives Interview

Cannabinoidvollspektrum

Routeinhalativ

Key finding

82% of cannabis users with Tourette syndrome reported reduction or remission of tics and associated symptoms.

Summary

n=64 Tourette patients surveyed; 17 (27%) reported cannabis use; 14 of 17 (82%) experienced reduction or complete remission of motor and vocal tics as well as improvement of premonitory urges and compulsive symptoms. No control group; hypothesis: cannabinoid system played a key role in TS pathology.

PopulationAdults with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, n=64; of these 17 (27%) with cannabis experience

InterventionSelf-reported cannabis use (cannabis), retrospectively assessed

Outcome14 of 17 cannabis users (82%) reported reduction or complete remission of motor and vocal tics as well as improvement of premonitory urges and compulsive symptoms

Confidence in the evidence

Very low

The lowest GRADE level, the effect estimate remains uncertain.

Downgraded for

Imprecision

Quality profile

Sample size ★★★★★

Blinding —

Effect size Clear benefit

Citations / year ★★★★★

Authors

Müller-Vahl KR, Kolbe H, Schneider U, Emrich HM.

DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1998.tb10127.x↗

Design: Querschnittsbefragung / retrospektives Interview

Abstract

High densities of cannabinoid receptors were found in the basal ganglia and hippocampus, indicating a putative functional role of cannabinoids in movement and behaviour. Anecdotal reports suggested beneficial effects of Cannabis in Tourette's syndrome (TS). We therefore interviewed 64 TS patients with regard to use of Cannabis and its influence on TS symptomatology. Of 17 patients (27%) who reported prior use of Cannabis, 14 subjects (82%) experienced a reduction or complete remission of motor and vocal tics and an amelioration of premonitory urges and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Our results provide more evidence that Cannabis improves tics and behavioural disorders in TS. It can be speculated that cannabinoids might act through specific receptors, and that the cannabinoid system might play a major role in TS pathology.

The impediment to action advances action. — Marcus Aurelius