Study: THC Inhalation Reduces PTSD Symptoms and Improves Sleep and Mood
- A real-world observational study of 58 UK civilians with PTSD and prior cannabis experience showed improvements in health-related quality of life, mood, anxiety, sleep, and PTSD symptoms after controlled inhalation of THC-rich cannabis flowers.
- Patients completing both baseline and three-month follow-up questionnaires reported notable reductions in PTSD-related symptoms such as intrusion, mood alterations, and reactivity.
- The treatment was well-tolerated with no reported adverse side effects, indicating the potential of THC-based inhalation therapies for PTSD management among cannabis-experienced patients.
- Further research is needed to assess long-term safety and efficacy of THC-dominant cannabis-based medicinal products in PTSD treatment, especially among cannabis-naïve individuals.
The real-world, observational study examined 58 UK civilians who had prior cannabis experience and a confirmed PTSD diagnosis, with data sourced from the T21 patient registry.
The research analyzed the effects of controlled inhalation of THC-rich cannabis flowers, focusing on changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mood, anxiety, sleep, and PTSD-specific symptoms. Patients who met the inclusion criteria—having completed both baseline and three-month follow-up PROMs (patient-reported outcome measures) questionnaires—showed notable improvements in overall health, mood, and sleep quality at the three-month mark. Specific gains were observed in the reduction of PTSD-related symptoms, particularly intrusion (p < 0.001), mood alterations (p < 0.001), and reactivity (p = 0.002), which either stabilized or improved further by six months.
The study found the treatment was generally well-tolerated, with no adverse side effects reported, supporting the potential of THC-based inhalation therapies for PTSD management among cannabis-experienced patients. However, the authors urge further research into long-term safety, particularly for cannabis-naïve individuals, to better understand the broader application and efficacy of THC-dominant cannabis-based medicinal products in PTSD treatment.