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.
To observe the effect of cannabis on fibromyalgia illness severity and related symptoms of depression and anxiety. A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify all patients who indicated fibromyalgia as a primary reason for seeking medical cannabis and completed at least 1 follow-up visit at Harvest Medicine clinics from January 2017 to July 2021. Data extracted from patient charts included Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores, and self-reported illness severity scores. Changes in these scores between a patient’s intake and first follow-up visits were calculated and analyzed for significance overall and in different demographic subgroups. Patients for whom no follow-up data were available were excluded.
Although pre-clinical experiments associate cannabinoids with reduced depressive symptoms, there is a paucity of clinical evidence. This study aims to analyze the health-related quality of life changes and safety outcomes in patients prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) for depression.
Current first-line treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD), i.e., antidepressant drugs and psychotherapy, show delayed onset of therapeutic effect as late as 2–3 weeks or more. In the clinic, the speed of beginning of the actions of antidepressant drugs or other interventions is vital for many reasons.
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.
Major depressive disorder is a high-impact, debilitating disease and it is currently considered the most prevalent mental illness. It is associated with disability, as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Despite its significant repercussions in our society, its exact pathophysiology remains unclear and therefore, available antidepressant treatment options are limited and, in some cases, ineffective. In the past years, research has focused on the development of a multifactorial theory of depression. Simultaneously, evidence supporting the role of the endocannabinoid system in the neurobiology of neuropsychiatric diseases has emerged. Studies have shown that the endocannabinoid system strongly impacts neurotransmission, and the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems, which are known to be dysfunctional in depressive patients. Accordingly, common antidepressants were shown to have a direct impact on the expression of cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain. Therefore, the relationship between the endocannabinoid system and major depressive disorder is worth consideration. Nevertheless, most studies focus on smaller pieces of what is undoubtedly a larger mosaic of interdependent processes. Therefore, the present review summarizes the existing literature regarding the role of the endocannabinoid system in depression aiming to integrate this information into a holistic picture for a better understanding of the relationship between the two.
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….
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…
Life Sciences, 15 November 2018
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Cannabis sativa is one of the most popular recreational and medicinal plants. Benefits from use of cannabinoid agents in epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and others have been suggested. It seems that the endocannabinoid system is also inv…
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, June 2018
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BACKGROUND: We sought to describe the correlates of marijuana use during and after pregnancy, and to examine the independent relationship between prenatal marijuana use and infant outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We used state-specific data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring…
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, University of Washington, June 2017
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THC and CBD appear to have antidepressant-like effects in animal models at certain doses but not others. Marijuana has been associated with diminished motivation, but a distinct “cannabis amotivational syndrome” has yet to be substantiated. Studies looking at whether marijuana…
BMJ, 23 November 2002
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The strongest evidence that cannabis use may be a risk factor for later psychosis comes from a Swedish cohort study which found that heavy cannabis use at age 18 increased the risk of later schizophrenia sixfold. This study could not establish whether adolescent cannabis use w…