Minhas Meenu, Lunn Stephanie E
Aurora Cannabis Inc, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Aurora Cannabis Inc, 1590 Galbraith Rd, BC, V9M 4A1, Comox, Canada.
J Cannabis Res. 2023 Jun 9;5(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s42238-023-00192-x.
The aim of the current study was to examine patterns of medical cannabis use in those using it to treat anxiety and to investigate if the anxiolytic effects of cannabis were impacted by gender and/or age.
Patient-reported data (n = 184 participants, 61% female, 34.7 ± 8.0 years) was collected through the Strainprint app. Tracked sessions were included if the method of administration was inhalation, treatment was for anxiety and the product used was dried flower. The final analyzed dataset encompassed three of the most commonly utilized dried flower products in anxiety sessions. Independent sample t-tests were used. The core analysis examined within subject changes overtime (pre-medication to post-medication) and interactions between time with two candidate moderators [gender (male, female) and age (18-29, 30-39, and 40 + years old)] by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). For significant main effects of interactions, post hoc tests were conducted using a Bonferroni correction. A secondary analysis examined differences in proportion of emotives endorsed as a function of gender or age using chi-square test of independence.
Cannabis consumption resulted in a significant decrease in anxiety scores among both males and females (average efficacy of 50%) and efficacy was similar across the three cultivars. However, gender differences in efficacy were identified in two of the cultivars. All age groups experienced significant reductions in their anxiety post cannabis consumption; however, the 40 + year old group had significantly less efficacy than the other groups. The overall optimal dosing for the entire cohort was 9-11 inhalations for males and 5-7 inhalations for females, with some variation in dosing across the different cultivars, genders and age groups.
We found all three cultivars had significant anxiolytic effects and were well-tolerated. Some limitations of the study are the moderate sample size, self-reported diagnosis of anxiety, unknown comorbidities and experience with cannabis, whether other drugs or cannabis products were used, and restriction to solely inhaled administration. We suggest that the gender and age differences in optimal dosing could support both healthcare practitioners and patients initiate medical cannabis treatment for anxiety.
本研究的目的是调查使用医用大麻治疗焦虑症的模式，并研究大麻的抗焦虑作用是否受到性别和/或年龄的影响。
通过Strainprint应用程序收集患者报告的数据（n = 184名参与者，61%为女性，年龄34.7±8.0岁）。如果给药方式为吸入、治疗目的为焦虑症且使用的产品为干花，则纳入跟踪的疗程。最终分析数据集包括焦虑症疗程中最常用的三种干花产品。使用独立样本t检验。核心分析通过方差分析（ANOVA）检查受试者随时间（用药前到用药后）的变化以及时间与两个候选调节变量[性别（男性、女性）和年龄（18 - 29岁、30 - 39岁和40岁以上）]之间的相互作用。对于显著的交互作用主效应，使用Bonferroni校正进行事后检验。二级分析使用独立性卡方检验检查根据性别或年龄认可的情绪比例差异。
大麻消费导致男性和女性的焦虑评分均显著降低（平均疗效为50%），并且三种品种的疗效相似。然而，在其中两个品种中发现了疗效的性别差异。所有年龄组在食用大麻后焦虑均显著降低；然而，40岁以上组的疗效明显低于其他组。整个队列的总体最佳剂量为男性9 - 11次吸入，女性5 - 7次吸入，不同品种、性别和年龄组的剂量存在一些差异。
我们发现所有三种品种都有显著的抗焦虑作用且耐受性良好。本研究的一些局限性包括样本量适中、焦虑症的自我报告诊断、未知的合并症和大麻使用经验、是否使用其他药物或大麻产品以及仅限于吸入给药。我们建议最佳剂量的性别和年龄差异可为医疗从业者和患者启动医用大麻治疗焦虑症提供参考。
