Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental illness affecting approximately 9% of the Canadian population (Van Ameringen et al., 2008). PTSD is characterized by chronic symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, irritability, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, significantly impacting quality of life and mental well-being (Van Ameringen et al., 2008; Sharpless & Barber, 2011). Military veterans, exposed to war-related traumatic experiences, often exhibit higher rates of PTSD compared to civilians (Veterans Affairs Canada, 2019). There is currently no single universally effective treatment for PTSD, leading to the exploration of various therapeutic approaches, including pharmaceutical intervention and psychological methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction (Van Ameringen et al., 2008; Sharpless & Barber, 2011). Medical cannabis in particular the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, has emerged as a potential treatment option for relieving PTSD symptoms, offering benefits such as anxiety reduction, modulation of memory-related processes, and improved sleep (Petersen et al., 2021; Orsolini et al., 2019; Hindocha et al., 2020). The cost of medical cannabis for Canadian veterans has been reimbursed by Veterans Affairs Canada since 2008, with the number of clients accessing this reimbursement program jumping from 37 persons to 14,640 within the past 10 years (Veterans Affairs Canada, 2021). Evidently, there is a need for medical cannabis among veterans for PTSD and other conditions, and this might be related to the efficacy of medical cannabis for PTSD.

Despite its potential benefits, the current literature on the efficacy of medical cannabis for PTSD is limited

The interview and survey results indicate that patients are seeking medicalcannabis to relieve a range of medical ailments associated to PTSD and have reported improved quality of life. This finding aligned with the survey study by Crowell (2017), which also found increased overall condition and energy as the most significant perceived benefits. Other studies had reported patients having symptoms return when they decreased or stopped cannabis use (Ware et al., 2005). Given the complex evidence, more research needs to be done to understand the pharmacology of cannabis and dosing options. Doing so will enabledoctors to better monitor for positive health outcomes and toxicity associated with its use and make informed recommendations. In summary, this research contributes valuable insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Canadian veterans. The study demonstrates that participants using CBD oil alone consistently exhibited lower scores in PTSD symptoms, anxiety levels, and insomnia severity compared to those using a combination of oil and inhaled cannabis. The findings emphasize the importance of considering the type of cannabis product and its administration method in designing effective treatment regimens for veterans with PTSD. Notably, participants who increased their CBD oil dosage showed a significant reduction in the EuroQOL EQ5 test, suggesting a correlation between dosage adjustments and improved quality of life. The study also revealed a sustained decrease in PTSD symptoms over time, reinforcing the enduring effectiveness of the intervention. However, the study’s limitations, including the small sample size in anxiety assessments, highlight the need for larger-scale investigations to validate and generalize these findings.