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Journal ArticleDOI

Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

TL;DR: There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity and low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome.
Abstract: Importance Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms, but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear. Objective To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events (AEs) of cannabinoids. Data Sources Twenty-eight databases from inception to April 2015. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials of cannabinoids for the following indications: nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, appetite stimulation in HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity due to multiple sclerosis or paraplegia, depression, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, psychosis, glaucoma, or Tourette syndrome. Data Extraction and Synthesis Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. All review stages were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Where possible, data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Patient-relevant/disease-specific outcomes, activities of daily living, quality of life, global impression of change, and AEs. Results A total of 79 trials (6462 participants) were included; 4 were judged at low risk of bias. Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials. Compared with placebo, cannabinoids were associated with a greater average number of patients showing a complete nausea and vomiting response (47% vs 20%; odds ratio [OR], 3.82 [95% CI, 1.55-9.42]; 3 trials), reduction in pain (37% vs 31%; OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 0.99-2.00]; 8 trials), a greater average reduction in numerical rating scale pain assessment (on a 0-10-point scale; weighted mean difference [WMD], −0.46 [95% CI, −0.80 to −0.11]; 6 trials), and average reduction in the Ashworth spasticity scale (WMD, −0.12 [95% CI, −0.24 to 0.01]; 5 trials). There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids, including serious AEs. Common AEs included dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, fatigue, somnolence, euphoria, vomiting, disorientation, drowsiness, confusion, loss of balance, and hallucination. Conclusions and Relevance There was moderate-quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity. There was low-quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, weight gain in HIV infection, sleep disorders, and Tourette syndrome. Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs.

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Both anxious/distressed specifier and mixed-features specifier were associated with early onset, poor course and functioning, and suicidality in US adults, and much remains to be learned about the DSM-5 MDD specifiers in the general population.
Abstract: Importance No US national data are available on the prevalence and correlates of DSM-5 –defined major depressive disorder (MDD) or on MDD specifiers as defined in DSM-5 . Objective To present current nationally representative findings on the prevalence, correlates, psychiatric comorbidity, functioning, and treatment of DSM-5 MDD and initial information on the prevalence, severity, and treatment of DSM-5 MDD severity, anxious/distressed specifier, and mixed-features specifier, as well as cases that would have been characterized as bereavement in DSM-IV . Design, Setting, and Participants In-person interviews with a representative sample of US noninstitutionalized civilian adults (≥18 years) (n = 36 309) who participated in the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III (NESARC-III). Data were collected from April 2012 to June 2013 and were analyzed in 2016-2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Prevalence of DSM-5 MDD and the DSM-5 specifiers. Odds ratios (ORs), adjusted ORs (aORs), and 95% CIs indicated associations with demographic characteristics and other psychiatric disorders. Results Of the 36 309 adult participants in NESARC-III, 12-month and lifetime prevalences of MDD were 10.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Odds of 12-month MDD were significantly lower in men (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.46-0.55) and in African American (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.54-0.68), Asian/Pacific Islander (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.45-0.67), and Hispanic (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.62-0.78) adults than in white adults and were higher in younger adults (age range, 18-29 years; OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 2.48-3.55) and those with low incomes ($19 999 or less; OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.49-2.04). Associations of MDD with psychiatric disorders ranged from an aOR of 2.1 (95% CI, 1.84-2.35) for specific phobia to an aOR of 5.7 (95% CI, 4.98-6.50) for generalized anxiety disorder. Associations of MDD with substance use disorders ranged from an aOR of 1.8 (95% CI, 1.63-2.01) for alcohol to an aOR of 3.0 (95% CI, 2.57-3.55) for any drug. Most lifetime MDD cases were moderate (39.7%) or severe (49.5%). Almost 70% with lifetime MDD had some type of treatment. Functioning among those with severe MDD was approximately 1 SD below the national mean. Among 12.9% of those with lifetime MDD, all episodes occurred just after the death of someone close and lasted less than 2 months. The anxious/distressed specifier characterized 74.6% of MDD cases, and the mixed-features specifier characterized 15.5%. Controlling for severity, both specifiers were associated with early onset, poor course and functioning, and suicidality. Conclusions and Relevance Among US adults, DSM-5 MDD is highly prevalent, comorbid, and disabling. While most cases received some treatment, a substantial minority did not. Much remains to be learned about the DSM-5 MDD specifiers in the general population.

977 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 2018
TL;DR: Despite increased cannabis use and a changing state-level policy landscape, conclusive evidence regarding the shortand long-term health effects—both harms and benefits—of cannabis use remains elusive.
Abstract: Recent years have seen a rapid rise in the medical and recreational use of cannabis: a broad term that can be used to describe the various products and chemical compounds (e.g., marijuana, cannabinoids) derived from different species of the cannabis plant. Despite increased cannabis use and a changing state-level policy landscape, conclusive evidence regarding the shortand long-term health effects—both harms and benefits—of cannabis use remains elusive.

921 citations


Cites background from "Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Sys..."

  • ...In their review, de Carvalho et al. (2015) noted several limitations particular to individual studies....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
20 Oct 2016-Cell
TL;DR: The structure of the CB1-AM6538 complex reveals key features of the receptor and critical interactions for antagonist binding and provides insight into the binding mode of naturally occurring CB1 ligands, such as THC, and synthetic cannabinoids.

488 citations


Cites background from "Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Sys..."

  • ...…has been widely used across many cultures to treat multiple conditions, with most of the results relayed via oral tradition, anecdote, political position, or with economic interest preventing an objective interpretation of therapeutic efficacy in any particular disease state (Whiting et al., 2015)....

    [...]

  • ...Marijuana has been widely used across many cultures to treat multiple conditions, with most of the results relayed via oral tradition, anecdote, political position, or with economic interest preventing an objective interpretation of therapeutic efficacy in any particular disease state (Whiting et al., 2015)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This Review discusses maladaptive structural plasticity in neural circuits of pain, spanning multiple anatomical and spatial scales in animal models and human patients, and addresses key questions on structure–function relationships.
Abstract: Chronic pain is not simply a temporal continuum of acute pain. Studies on functional plasticity in neural circuits of pain have provided mechanistic insights and linked various modulatory factors to a change in perception and behaviour. However, plasticity also occurs in the context of structural remodelling and reorganisation of synapses, cells and circuits, potentially contributing to the long-term nature of chronic pain. This Review discusses maladaptive structural plasticity in neural circuits of pain, spanning multiple anatomical and spatial scales in animal models and human patients, and addresses key questions on structure-function relationships.

409 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Several domains of health consequences of cannabis use will be discussed, also in the context of estimates of cannabis-attributable burden of disease, in different age groups and in comparison with disease burden attributable to other psychoactive substances.
Abstract: Cannabis is the most commonly used psychoactive substance regulated by international drug control treaties with estimated 178 million people aged 15-64 had used cannabis at least once in 2012 (UNODC, 2014). The levels and patterns of cannabis use vary significantly around the world with the highest prevalence rates in Africa, North America and Western Pacific region. There is an increasing availability of cannabis for medical use, and several jurisdictions made legal production, distribution and use of cannabis for other than medical or scientific purposes. At the same time the data on impact of cannabis use and cannabis use disorders on health of the populations and health services is limited, particularly in less resourced countries. The synthetic cannabinoids are becoming increasingly common on drug scenes in different parts of the world, but the data on their impact on health is largely absent. Several domains of health consequences of cannabis use will be discussed, also in the context of estimates of cannabis-attributable burden of disease, in different age groups and in comparison with disease burden attributable to other psychoactive substances.

3 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
16 Nov 2005-Blood
TL;DR: Day 1 data suggest that the addition of dronabinol to the standard antiemetic regimen before and after chemotherapy may offer more benefit than the standard regimen alone.

2 citations