Phase 2
N=80
Pilot Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Four Different Potencies of Smoked Marijuana in 76 Veterans With PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02759185 ↗Enrolled (actual)
80
Serious AEs
3.3%
Results posted
Sep 2021
Primary outcome: Primary: Baseline CAPS-5 Total Severity Score — 36.6; 36.8; 38.0; 37.3 score on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Interventions
- High THC cannabis (Drug); High CBD cannabis (Drug); THC/CBD cannabis (Drug); Placebo cannabis (Drug)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
- Primary completion
- Nov 2018
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Baseline CAPS-5 Total Severity Score |
36.6; 36.8; 38.0; 37.3 | — |
| PRIMARY Stage 1 Primary Endpoint CAPS-5 Total Severity Scores (Visit 5) |
20.5; 28.1; 29.6; 24.2 | — |
| PRIMARY Change in CAPS-5 Total Severity Scores From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint (Visit 5) |
-15.2; -8.4; -8.5; -13.1 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint |
-23.5; -12.1; -16.4; -14.6 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Inventory of Depression and Anxiety (IDAS) Social Anxiety Total Scores From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint |
-3.7; -2.7; -2.2; -2.4 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning (IPF) From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint |
1.2; -1.2; 4.1; -0.2 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Inventory of Depression and Anxiety (IDAS) General Depression Total Scores From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint |
-16.1; -11.4; -13.4; -8.3 | — |
| SECONDARY Change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) Scores From Baseline to Stage 1 Primary Endpoint |
-8.8; -5.9; -6.6; -6.1 | — |
Summary
This pilot study gathered preliminary evidence of the safety and efficacy of four potencies of smoked cannabis to manage chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD among veterans: (1) High THC/ Low CBD (High THC), (2) Low THC/High CBD (High CBD), (3) High THC/ High CBD (THC/CBD) and (4) Low THC/Low CBD (placebo). The study will produce preliminary evidence to help elucidate the potential effects of THC, CBD, or a combination of both constituents to reduce PTSD symptoms. Smoked cannabis will be tested in two stages of three weeks each (Stage 1 and Stage 2), with a two-week cessation period after each stage, verified by blood/urine cannabinoid analysis. The primary objective was to compare three active concentrations of smoked cannabis and placebo on PTSD symptom severity measured by CAPS-5 total severity scores during Stage 1.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Have chronic treatment-resistant PTSD of at least six months duration.
- Have PTSD of at least moderate severity at the time of baseline assessment.
- Be a military veteran with PTSD.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be willing to commit to medication dosing and delivery method, to completing evaluation instruments, and attending all study visits.
- Agree to use only cannabis provided by site staff and agree to required cessation periods for the duration of the study.
- Report no current hazardous cannabis use and completely abstain from cannabis during the 2-week baseline assessment period (verified via urine and/or blood cannabinoid concentrations).
- Agree to video record all cannabis administrations and provide video to the site staff for review during study participation.
- Agree to keep all cannabis provided by site staff securely stored in the provided lock box and not to share/distribute cannabis to any other individual.
- Be stable on any pre-study medications and/or psychotherapy regimen for PTSD prior to study entry, agree to notify their physician/clinician about participation in the study, and agree to report any changes in medication or psychotherapy treatment regimen during the study, to site staff.
- If female and of childbearing potential, agree to use an effective form of birth control during study participation and may only be allowed to enroll and continue in the study based on a negative pregnancy test.
- Be proficient in reading and writing in English and able to effectively communicate with site staff.
- Agree not to participate in any other interventional clinical trials during the study
Exclusion Criteria
- Upon review of medical or psychiatric history must not have any current or past diagnosis that would be considered a risk to participation in the study.
- Have any allergies to cannabis or contraindication for smoking of cannabis
- Are abusing illegal drugs.
- Are not able to give adequate informed consent.
- Are not able to attend face-to-face visits or those who plan to move out of the area within the treatment period.
- Are pregnant or nursing, or if a woman who can have children, those who are not practicing an effective means of birth control.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02759185). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.