Clinical outcome data of anxiety patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products in the United Kingdom: a cohort study from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry

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Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have been identified as novel therapeutics for generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) based on pre-clinical models; however, there is a paucity of high-quality evidence on their effectiveness and safety. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with GAD treated with dried flower, oil-based preparations, or a combination of both CBMPs. A prospective cohort study of patients with GAD (n = 302) enrolled in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry prescribed oil or flower-based CBMPs was performed. Primary outcomes were changes in generalised anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaires at 1, 3, and 6 months compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes were single-item sleep quality scale (SQS) and health-related quality of life index (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaires at the same time points. These changes were assessed by paired t-tests. Adverse events were assessed in line with CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) v4.0.

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Cannabis for Anxiety and PTSD

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Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric disorders, and they’re one of the most common conditions for which people use cannabis. One review found that among 6665 cannabis users with data collected from 13 different studies, 52% of the subjects reported using cannabis for anxiety, making it the second most commonly treated symptom, following pain (1). Anxiety disorders come in many forms, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders.

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Cannabis containing equivalent concentrations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) induces less state anxiety than THC-dominant cannabis

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Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active component of cannabis, can cause anxiety in some users during intoxication. Cannabidiol (CBD), another constituent of cannabis, has anxiolytic properties suggesting that cannabis products containing CBD in addition to THC may produce less anxiety than THC-only products. Findings to date around this issue have been inconclusive and could conceivably depend on moderating factors such as baseline anxiety levels in users.

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Systematic literature review of human studies assessing the efficacy of cannabidiol for social anxiety

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The current review evaluates the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) as a promising pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although a number of evidence-based treatments for SAD are available, less than a third of affected individuals experience symptom remission after one year of treatment. Therefore, improved treatment options are urgently needed, and CBD is one candidate medication that may have certain benefits over current pharmacotherapies, including the absence of sedating side effects, reduced abuse liability, and rapid course of action. The current review provides a brief overview of CBD’s mechanisms of action, neuroimaging in SAD, and evidence for CBD’s effects on the neural substrates of SAD, as well as systematically reviewing literature directly examining the efficacy of CBD for improving social anxiety among healthy volunteers and individuals with SAD

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An investigation of cannabis use for insomnia in depression and anxiety in a naturalistic sample

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Little is known about cannabis use for insomnia in individuals with depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression and anxiety. To develop a better understanding of distinct profiles of cannabis use for insomnia management, a retrospective cohort study was conducted on a large naturalistic sample.

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Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on aversive memories and anxiety: a review from human studies

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may stem from the formation of aberrant and enduring aversive memories. Some PTSD patients have recreationally used Cannabis, probably aiming at relieving their symptomatology. However, it is still largely unknown whether and how Cannabis or its psychotomimetic compound Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attenuates the aversive/traumatic memory outcomes. Here, we seek to review and discuss the effects of THC on aversive memory extinction and anxiety in healthy humans and PTSD patients.

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Endocannabinoids, Cannabinoids and the Regulation of Anxiety

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Cannabis has been used for hundreds of years, with its ability to dampen feelings of anxiety often reported as a primary reason for use. Only recently has the specific role cannabinoids play in anxiety been thoroughly investigated. Here we discuss the body of evidence describing how endocannabinoids and exogenous cannabinoids are capable of regulating the generation and termination of anxiety states.

Objective: To determine the short-term effects of smoked marijuana on the viral load in HIV-infected patients.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE OF ANXIETY- AND DEPRESSION-LIKE BEHAVIOR FOR TOTAL GENETIC ABLATION OF CANNABINOID RECEPTOR TYPE 1

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Authors: Delia Soriano, Alicia Brusco, Laura Caltana Published in Behavioural Brain Research November 2020 Abstract Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) is the most abundant cannabinoid receptor in central nervous system….

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Treatment of social anxiety disorder and attenuated psychotic symptoms with cannabidiol

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Authors: Maximus Berger, Emily Li, Günter Paul Amminger Published in BMJ Case Reports CP 2020 Abstract Anxiety disorders in young people are frequently comorbid with other mental disorders and respond…

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A single dose of cannabidiol modulates medial temporal and striatal function during fear processing in people at clinical high risk for psychosis

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Authors: Cathy Davies, Robin Wilson, Elizabeth Appiah-Kusi, Grace Blest-Hopley, Michael Brammer, Jesus Perez, Robin M Murray, Paul Allen, Matthijs G Bossong, Philip McGuire, Sagnik Bhattacharyya Published in Translational Psychiatry September…

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Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Doses are Associated with Adult ADHD Status of Medical Cannabis Patients

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Authors: Jeffrey Y. Hergenrather, Joshua Aviram, Yelena Vysotski, Salvatore Campisi-Pinto, Gil M. Lewitus, David Meiri Published in Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal January 2020 Abstract Objective The aim of this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study…

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Possible therapeutic applications of cannabis in the neuropsychopharmacology field.

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Authors: Javier Fernández-Ruiz, Ismael Galve-Roperh, Onintza Sagredo, Manuel Guzmán
European Neuropsychopharmacology, 10 February 2020
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Cannabis use induces a plethora of actions on the CNS via its active chemical ingredients, the so-called phytocannabinoids. These compounds have been frequently associated with the intoxicating properties of cannabis preparations. However, not all phytocannabinoids are psychot…

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