Table 3. Descriptive reporting of outcomes: PTSD symptoms.
| Author, Publication Year | Scale | Intervention | Sample Size Analyzed | Authors' Conclusions |
| PTSD Symptoms | ||||
| Cameron 2014 | PCL-C | Nabilone; | 104 | Cannabis was associated with significant improvement in overall PTSD symptoms (P = 0.001). Pretreatment score improved from mean (SD) = 54.7 (13.0) to post intervention mean (SD) = 38.8 (7.1); P = 0.001) |
| Drost, 2017 | Self-developed questionnaire | Cannabis (mixed) | 171 | 77.2% of the patients, had a reduction in PTSD symptoms with the cannabis use (P = 0.0031); whereas 10.5% had not changes in PTSD symptoms. |
| Elms 2019 | PCL-5 | Cannabidiol (CBD) | 11 | CBD used associated with significant reduction in PTSD symptoms. At 4 weeks follow-up, 10 patients had significant reduction in overall PTSD symptoms [40.73 (12.92)]; whereas in patients symptoms worsened from baseline [PCL-5 = 63)]. At 8 weeks follow-up, 8 patients had further decreased in PTSD symptoms; whereas in three patient's PTSD symptoms worsened from four weeks follow-up. |
| Greer, 2014 | CAPS | Cannabis (mixed) | 80 | Cannabis was associated with reduction in CAPS score at follow-up 22.5 (16.9); as compared to control group 98.8 (17.6); P = 0.0001). >75% reduction in CAPS score was noted with Cannabis use. |
| Jetly, 2015 | CAPS | Nabilone | Nabilone (n = 5); Placebo (n = 4); | Nabilone was associated with reduction in overall PTSD symptoms; Nabilone = −3.6 (2.4); placebo = −1 (2.1); P = 0.03) |
| Johnson, 2016 | PCL-C | Cannabis (mixed) | Cannabis (n = 350); control (n = 350) | No significant association between cannabis use and PTSD symptoms; Users = 59.2 (10); controls = 59.1 (11.2); P = 0.91 |
| Roitman 2014 | CAPS | THC | 10 | Cannabis use was not associated in reduction in PTSD symptoms (P => 0.1). |
| Ruglass 2017 | CAPS | Cannabis (mixed) | 136 | No significant association between PTSD symptoms and Cannabis use was found (P > 0.30). |
| Smith, 2017 | Survey questionnaire | Cannabis (mixed) | 100 | Medical cannabis uses reduced PTSD symptoms (Effect size = 1.5; P = 0.0001) |
| Wilkinson, 2015 | Symptom severity | Cannabis (mixed) | Never used (n = 767); stoppers (n = 263); Continued users (n = 296); started (n = 738) | Cannabis was associated with worsening of PTSD symptoms. The mean for patients who continued using cannabis 38.9 (0.383) * or started cannabis 39.67 (0.226) * had higher PTSD symptoms and as compared to never users 37.71 (0.228) * and stoppers 36.64 (0.383) * respectively; P = 0.0001) |
| Functional Outcomes (quality of life, disability, and social functions) | ||||
| Cameron, 2014 | GAF | Nabilone | 103 | Cannabis was associated with significant improvement in GAF (P = 0.001). Pretreatment score improved from mean (SD) = 45 (6.9) to post intervention mean (SD) = 58.2 (8.4); P = 0.001) |
| Chan, 2017 | QOL indicators | Cannabis (mixed) | 39 | Medical cannabis significantly uses improvement in the overall quality of life (P = 0.03); however, individual scores on mobility, dress/ shower and activities of daily living were not significant. |
| Smith, 2017 | Survey questionnaire | Cannabis (mixed) | 100 | Medical cannabis use had significant improvement in social and family life such as marital/relationship, relationships with siblings and parent children Effect size = 1.2; P = 0.0001). |
| Work-related Outcomes | ||||
| Wilkinson, 2015 | RTW | Cannabis | Never used (n = 767); stoppers (n = 263); Continued users (n = 296); started (n = 738) | Cannabis was associated with worsening of PTSD symptoms. The mean for patients who continued using cannabis 0.594 (0.011) * or started cannabis 0.577 (0.007) * had higher PTSD symptoms and as compared to never users 0.578 (0.007) * and stoppers 0.575 (0.011) * respectively; P = 0.57) |
*SE = Standard error; SD = standard deviation'
GAF = Global assessment of function; CAPS = Clinician Administered Posttraumatic Scale; PCL= PTSD check list
THC =Tetrahydrocannabinol; CBD = Cannabidiol