It is crucial to have many options for treatment when it comes to mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Antidepressants and antianxiety medications have been life-saving for many people in the 20th and 21st century. However, there are a few who don't work or suffer from severe side effects.
According to Erin Martin, a Medical University of South Carolina neuroscientist, cannabis products are being used for symptoms management by an increasing number of people suffering from anxiety and depression.
Past studies on marijuana and depression showed mixed results. In 2019, we published a study linking teenage marijuana use with adult depression. Some of the synthetic or isolated components of cannabis can reduce anxiety in a short time. Although clinical trials are yet to be conducted on these compounds' effects on depression, studies in mice have shown promising results.
The latest study surveyed 368 users of cannabis and 170 controls who did not use cannabis. They were asked to fill out an online survey that included details about their anxiety, depression, sleep quality, pain management, and cannabis use.
To analyze the experiences of the participants, the researchers used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A score of eight or more on the HADS indicates clinical concern. However, scores as high as 21 can indicate clinical concern.
People who used cannabis products had lower levels of anxiety and depression. The HADS score of cannabis users was lower than that of controls, with a higher percentage scoring below 8. Cannabis users reported a higher quality of life and better sleep than those who used controls.
Additionally, an even smaller number of non-users tried cannabis as a follow-up, and anxiety dropped among those who used it.
"We observed no effect of medicinal marijuana use on anxiety at baseline," writes the team in their paper. "Participants who initiated cannabis use during the following period reported significant anxiety reductions that were not seen in non-initiators."
Researchers also discovered that cannabidiol (CBD) was more effective than tetrahydrocannabinol, and that it wasn't affected if you were also taking antidepressants.
(Martin et. al., Frontiers of Psychiatry 2021).
Above: The HADS score of both cannabis users (and controls) and the percentage difference between grouped HADS scores.
These data do not imply that you should stop taking medications or use cannabis to alleviate anxiety and depression.
The graph shows that the results are still very small. There are also limitations to this study. First, correlation does not necessarily mean causation. We can't say if cannabis products actually lower depression scores. This was an observational study.
It was difficult to determine the exact causes of these effects because it was a self-reported questionnaire.
The team suggests that it is possible that medicinal cannabis users have experienced some symptom improvement, particularly when considering the low CBD daily doses reported by participants in comparison to those in clinical trials.
"Likewise, controls were people who were contemplating the use of medicinal marijuana to treat their condition. It is therefore not surprising that those who believe medicinal cannabis can help with their condition enough would be able to use it.
However, these positive results deserve further investigation, especially if they could be of benefit to those who are unable or unwilling to take antidepressants.
Research like this will likely pick up speed as CBD products are increasingly used in medicinal and recreational purposes.
Frontiers in Psychiatry published the research.
