Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoid formulations, including CBD and THC-containing products, show measurable reductions in anxiety symptoms across multiple disorder types, based on pooled data from randomized and observational studies. Evidence supports modest but clinically meaningful benefit, particularly for generalized anxiety and Tourette syndrome, though effect sizes and optimal formulations vary by condition. Patients and clinicians should weigh these findings alongside study heterogeneity and individual response variability when considering cannabinoids as part of an anxiety management plan.
#24 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
- 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 (ฮ9-THC), the meta-analytic measure was -0.65 (95% CI: -1.06/-0.24), suggesting a moderate, significant effect favoring ฮ9-THC-dominant compounds. In meta-analyses
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