Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoid formulations, particularly CBD-containing products, show measurable reductions in anxiety symptoms across multiple study designs, though effect sizes and optimal dosing vary by condition and formulation. Evidence for Tourette syndrome is more limited but suggests potential benefit for tic severity and associated anxiety. Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously given heterogeneity in study populations, cannabinoid compositions, and outcome measures across included trials.
#23 Effects of Different Cannabinoid Formulations on Anxiety-Related Disorders, and Tourette Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Citation: Raminelli Adrieli Oliveira et al.. Effects of Different Cannabinoid Formulations on Anxiety-Related Disorders, and Tourette Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research. 2025. PMID: 40956670.
Design: 6 Journal: 1 N: 0 Recency: 2 Pop: 2 Human: 1 Risk: -2
Quality Gate Alerts:
- Preclinical only
Abstract: Introduction: Cannabinoid formulations have been increasingly proposed as therapeutic potential options for anxiety disorders (ADs). Several countries have expanded regulatory frameworks facilitating access to these compounds due to their alleged therapeutic benefits, including their application in ADs. Given its public health significance, we evaluated existing evidence regarding the efficacy of different medical cannabinoids as interventions for ADs and related mental conditions. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scielo, and Lilacs databases. We included randomized controlled trials (RTCs) assessing the effects of various cannabinoid formulations on patients with ADs and related conditions. Distinct meta-analyses were performed for cannabinoid subtypes. Analyses were conducted using Jamovi software, relying on standardized mean difference (SMD) calculations of pre/post-intervention score changes for both intervention and control groups. Results: We incorporated 21 placebo-controlled RCTs, examining cannabinoid interventions in social anxiety disorder (SAD = 5), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD = 1), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD = 7), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD = 1), and Tourette syndrome (TS = 7). Data extraction indicated considerable heterogeneity across outcomes, including clinical symptoms, neuroimaging findings, well-being, psychosocial functioning, safety, and tolerability. In studies utilizing pure or enriched CBD, the meta-analytic measure indicated a nonsignificant difference (SMD = -0.40; 95% CI: -0.84/0.03). However, a subgroup analysis of pure CBD compounds yielded a moderate, statistically significant effect size (SMD: -0.61, 95% CI: -1.15/-0.07). For studies investigating pure or enriched delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the meta-analytic measure was -0.65 (95% CI: -1.06/-0.24), suggesting a moderate, significant effect favoring Δ9-THC-dominant compounds. In meta-analyses