BudMed Bulletin for 7/11/24

Next issue: Cannabis for Parkinson’s Disease

Unveiling the Mind's Ally: How Cannabis is Revolutionising Mental Health Care

Introduction

Mental health issues encompass a wide range of conditions that affect how individuals think, feel, and behave. They are conditions that can significantly alter one's emotional well-being, cognitive processes, or social interactions.

Definition: Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It influences how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. When these aspects are impaired, it might indicate a mental health issue.

Scope: Mental health issues include disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), eating disorders, and many others. These conditions can range from mild to severe and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background.

Prevalence: Mental health issues are incredibly common, with research showing that nearly one in five adults in the U.S. experiences some form of mental illness each year. The impact of these conditions can be profound, affecting not only the individual but also their families, communities, and society at large.

Unlocking the Brain's Secrets: How Cannabis Could Revolutionise Neurological Treatment.

“The therapeutic potential of Cannabis and its constituents has garnered attention, with suggestions for treating various conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and other Neurological disorders. Recent research, particularly on animal experimental models, has unveiled the neuro protective properties of cannabis.”

Mental Health Applications of Cannabis

Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis for the Treatment of Depression. “Medical cannabis was well tolerated and dropout rate was comparable to those in clinical trials of antidepressant medication. Patients reported a clinically significant reduction of depression severity.”

From Panic to Peace: Unveiling the Clinical Success of Cannabis in Treating Anxiety. “Prescription of CBMPs (Cannabis-based medicinal products) in those with GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) is associated with clinically significant improvements in anxiety with an acceptable safety profile in a real-world setting.”

Cannabis for ADHD: Could Specific Doses Unlock Focus and Calm? “The high dose consumers and the ones with lower ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) score reported a higher occurrence of stopping all ADHD medications. Moreover, there was an association between lower ASRS score subgroup and lower anxiety scores.”

Could Cannabis Unlock New Treatments for Autism? “These findings support the notion that there are links between key features of ASD and ECS (endocannabinoid system) due to the favourable actions of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids on symptoms related to behavioural and cognitive disorders, as well as deficits in communication and social interaction, hyperactivity, anxiety and sleep disorders. Thus, phytocannabinoids emerge as therapeutic alternatives for ASD.”

Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. “Administration of oral CBD in addition to routine psychiatric care was associated with PTSD symptom reduction in adults with PTSD. CBD also appeared to offer relief in a subset of patients who reported frequent nightmares as a symptom of their PTSD.”

Broader Therapeutic Applications

In this exclusive talk for Jefferson, Textile, and Philadelphia University alumni, Brooke Worster, MD, FACP, program director of Medical Cannabis Science and Business in the Institute of Emerging Health Professions at Thomas Jefferson University, discusses what we know, what we don’t know, and what we hope to learn through research taking place at Jefferson. Video Link

Sources.

Decoding the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in Neurological Disorders

Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis for the Treatment of Depression

Clinical outcome data of anxiety patients treated with cannabis-based medicinal products

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

Implications of the endocannabinoid system and the therapeutic action of cannabinoids in autism spectrum disorder

Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Disclaimer: The content provided in this newsletter by BudMed Bulletin is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the use of medical cannabis.