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71% of veterans in remission from PTSD with medical cannabis – study

A focus group in the US has explored the use of medical cannabis in veterans with PTSD

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71% of veterans in remission from PTSD with medical cannabis - study

A US focus group, exploring the effects of medical cannabis in veterans with PTSD, has produced promising findings.

The leading medical cannabis provider in the state of Texas, Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation (TXOG), has released the results from a focus group exploring the effects of medical cannabis in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The study took place over 90 days among 14 veterans who have a clinical diagnosis of  the condition, with researchers reporting “dramatic” results.

Focus group participants sampled TXOG’s gummy, lozenge and tincture products at various dosages based on individual prescriptions from their physicians.

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Following the focus group’s completion, patients reported quick onset of the products’ medicinal effects and unanimous relief from their PTSD symptoms. 

In addition to the survey, Dr Matthew Brimberry, the head of Texas Cannabis Clinic and the focus group’s presiding physician, evaluated the group using an entrance and exit PCL-5 questionnaire, a 20-item self-reporting measure that assesses the 20 clinical symptoms of PTSD listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Dr Brimberry’s assessment noted the medicine was well tolerated and no patient discontinued treatment due to medicinal side effects. 

Overall PTSD symptoms in the focus group were reduced by 47 per cent from an initial PCL-5 mean score of 54.3 to 28.6 after 90 days.

Ninety three per cent of patients experienced decreased symptom severity, while 86 per cent of the group showed a clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms.

At the end of the 90-day focus group, 71 per cent of the group achieved PTSD remission—defined as a PCL-5 score of less than 33.

“My team and I have served hundreds of Texans suffering from PTSD, cancer and other debilitating conditions. Introducing medical cannabis into their treatment plans has been truly life-changing,” commented Dr Brimberry. 

“As a physician, my goal is to alleviate a patient’s symptoms to the best of my ability, improve their quality of life and better their long-term prognosis. To observe the participants of TXOG’s PTSD focus group experience such a dramatic, positive change in their symptoms has been extraordinary and conclusively demonstrates the impact medical cannabis can have in treatment.”

The focus group evaluated symptom response, patient product preference and medical cannabis’ potential to reduce traditional pharmaceutical consumption. 

Participants reported a reduction in pain, decreased nightmares, better sleep and improved mood.

Dr Brimberry added: “This observational study echoes what veterans have been telling us. Medicinal cannabis should be considered as one of the first-line treatment options for PTSD. We are seeing significantly better results with cannabis when compared to conventional pharmacotherapy.”

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Sarah Sinclair is an award-winning freelance journalist covering health, drug policy and social affairs. She is one of the few UK reporters specialising in medical cannabis policy and as the former editor of Cannabis Health has covered developments in the European cannabis sector extensively, with a focus on patients and consumers. She continues to report on cannabis-related health and policy for Forbes, Cannabis Health and Business of Cannabis and has written for The i Paper, Byline Times, The Lead, Positive News, Leafie & others. Sarah has an NCTJ accreditation and an MA in Journalism from the University of Sunderland and has completed additional specialist training through the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society in the UK. She has spoken at leading industry events such as Cannabis Europa.

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