A study entitled "Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Medicinal Cannabis Use in an Observational Trial" published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry explored the potential ability of medical cannabis to treat anxiety and depression.
The study reported that "anxiety and depressive disorders are highly prevalent" and that patients suffering from these conditions "are increasingly using medicinal cannabis products to treat these disorders." The study noted that "little is known about the effects of medicinal cannabis use on symptoms of anxiety and depression."
"The present observational study aimed to assess general health in medicinal cannabis users and non-using controls with anxiety and/or depression," reported the scientists.
The study involved 538 participants (comprised of 368 "cannabis users" and 170 non-cannabis consuming control subjects) who completed an online survey about their symptoms related to anxiety and depression and cannabis use. The participants reported on their "sleep, quality of life, and...chronic pain."
The research revealed that cannabis use among the participants "significantly decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms, an effect that was not observed in control subjects that never initiated cannabis use."
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