Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

While further research into cannabinoid treatment effects on PTSD symptoms is required, the evaluated evidence indicates that substantial numbers of military veterans with PTSD use cannabis or derivative products to control PTSD symptoms, with some patients reporting benefits in terms of reduced anxiety and insomnia and improved coping ability.

Interactive effects of PTSD and substance use on suicidal ideation and behavior in military personnel: Increased risk from marijuana use

“…The finding that increased marijuana use in the presence of elevated PTSD symptoms strongly predicts suicidal ideation, PTSD symptoms, and, especially, suicidal behavior, has important clinical implications. There has been a recent surge in legislative efforts to prescribe medical marijuana for PTSD symptoms in civilians and in military personnel, despite inadequate evidence of efficacy involving small sample non‐randomized control trials, and some evidence that harm outweighs benefits (Betthauser, Pilz, & Vollmer, ; Department of Defense, & Department of Veterans Affairs, ; O'Neil et al, ). In fact, medical marijuana is currently legal in 30 states as well as the District of Columbia and can be prescribed for the treatment of PTSD in the majority of these states.…”

Medicinal Properties of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids in Cannabis, and Benefits in Migraine, Headache, and Pain: An Update on Current Evidence and Cannabis Science

“…These 2 synthetic forms of THC have also been shown to have analgesic benefit . ‐ There have been other benefits of THC reported also, including antioxidant and neuroprotective, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), MS, ‐ autism, Parkinson's, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's disease/chorea, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sickle cell disease pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI), hypothermia, duodenal ulcers, anorexia and cachexia, inflammatory bowel disease, spinal cord injury, antispasmodic, muscle relaxation, and spasticity, antibacterial effects against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, anti‐proliferative/pro‐apoptotic against tumor cell lines of multiple organ systems including brain, breast, colon, and blood, psoriasis,…”

Tasty THC: Promises and Challenges of Cannabis Edibles

“…This research has focused primarily on a handful of the multitude of medical conditions and symptoms for which the benefits of cannabis have been proclaimed anecdotally, including muscle spasm and chronic pain (Borgelt, Franson, Nussbaum, & Wang, 2013; Harrison, Heritier, Childs, Bostwick, & Dziadzko, 2015), nausea and vomiting (Smith, Azariah, Lavender, Stoner, & Bettiol, 2015), epilepsy (Friedman & Devinsky, 2015), appetite stimulation (Gorter, 1999), cancer (Pacher, 2013), and several psychiatric disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression; Betthauser, Pilz, & Vollmer, 2015; Zlebnik & Cheer, 2016). To date, the quality of evidence supportive of cannabinoid treatment for spasticity and chronic pain has been moderate, whereas only low-quality evidence was available to support its use for nausea and vomiting and for weight gain in patients with HIV/AIDS or cancer (for a review, see Whiting et al, 2015).…”