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. 2017 Nov 30;15(4):301–312. doi: 10.9758/cpn.2017.15.4.301

Table 4.

Clinical trials of cannabis and its derivatives for neurodegenerative conditions

Study Design/duration Condition Sample characteristics Intervention (No. of patients) Outcome Side effects/adverse events Results Cochrane risk of bias
Alzheimer’s disease
 Volicer et al. (1997)22) Double-blind Crossover Disturbed behavior in Alzheimer’s disease

  • n=12

  • 11:1

  • 65–82 yr

  • Mean age, 72.7 yr

  • Dronabinol 2.5 mg

  • Placebo

  • CMAI

  • Lawton observed affect scale

 Common side effects:

  • Anxiety

  • Emotional lability

  • Tiredness

  • Somnolence

  • Decreased severity of disturbed behavior (CMAI, p=0.05)

  • Decreased negative affect (p=0.045), but not positive affect

 Unclear
Dementia
 Walther et al. (2011)23) Crossover Nighttime agitation in Alzheimer’s disease

  • n=2

  • Dronabinol 2.5 mg

  • Placebo

  • Nonparametric circadian rhythm analysis

  • NPI

 No adverse event

  • Reduced nighttime agitation and strengthened circadian rhythms

 Unclear
 van den Elsen et al. (2015)24) Double-blind Crossover Dementia

  • n=54

  • Mean age, 78.4 yr

  • THC (Namisol) 1.5 mg×3

  • Placebo

  • NPI

  • CMAI

  • Barthel index

  • QoL-AD

  • CCGIC

 Common side effects:

  • Dizziness

  • Somnolence

  • No significant difference on all measures

 Unclear
 van den Elsen et al. (2015)25) Double-blind Crossover Dementia

  • n=22

  • Mean age, 76.4 yr

  • THC (Namisol) 0.75–1.5 mg×2

  • Placebo

  • NPI

  • CMAI

  • ZBI

 Lack of information on common adverse event

  • No significant difference on all measures

 Unclear
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
 Weber et al. (2010)26) Double-blind Crossover ALS

  • n=27

  • 20:7

  • 34–48 yr (mean, 57 yr)

  • THC 5 mg×2

  • Placebo

 Primary:

  • Daily cramp severity (VAS)

Secondary:

  • ALSFRS-R

  • ALSAQ-40

  • SDQ24

 2 serious adverse events

  • No significant difference on all measures

 Unclear

CMAI, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory; NPI, Neuropsychiatric Inventory; THC, tetrahydrocannabinol; QoL-AD, Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale; CCGIC, Caregiver Clinical Global Impression of Change; ZBI, Zarit Burden Interview; VAS, visual analogue scale; ALSFRS-R, ALS functional rating scale revised; ALSAQ-40, ALS assessment questionnaire; SDQ24, Sleep Disorder Questionnaire.

*

• Total (completed)/• male:female/• age.