Use of Cannabis in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

The scientific understanding of psychological trauma has witnessed a constant evolution since the 19th century to the present day, several terms have been created in the effort to categorize this phenomenon, as well as multiple explicatory theories often contradictory between each other. In 1889, Herman Oppenheim, a German neurologist, introduced the term "traumatic neurosis". This condition was explained in an organicist manner, by subtle changes at the molecular level in the nervous system. In 1904, Pierre Janet proposed the first explanation of what we today know as PTSD, caused by a failure in memory integration due to extreme emotional arousal.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as an exposure to a highly traumatic event, be it a bombing, rape, assault, kidnapping, accident, and more; where the lives of the people in the event are at risk. The images of the traumatic situation are experienced over and over again (flashback), against one's will and despite the time, it remains present and is manifested by intense anxiety reactions such as: worry, intense fear, lack of control, high physiological activation and others. This generates stress, exhaustion, intense emotions and irrational thoughts that increase in intensity.

Currently, cannabinoids -substances derived from the cannabis plant- have been involved in modulating the stress response in various animal models in which some degree of stress has been generated. It has also been shown that corticosterone facilitates the synthesis and release of endocannabinoids. In addition, systemic or direct administration in the amygdala reduces stress in fear conditioning models. The recent knowledge about cannabinoids provides a novel therapeutic window for many mental disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder.

Preliminary data indicate that medical cannabis and its compounds can manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder related to hyper-excitability. Anxious responses to exteroceptive stimuli and trauma experiences that are context-dependent. While these clinical observations need to be sustained and replicated in larger populations, they provide a clue to the calming effects that cannabis may have on stress and anxiety behaviors. (Patel et al. 2017)

The rapid progress that medical research has had to determine the therapeutic properties of cannabis derivatives and the medicinal use of this plant, has generated hope for improving the quality of life of people suffering from various diseases; this based on the beneficial effects that phytocannabinoids have shown against many disorders such as PTSD.

In this book that Pharmacology University brings to you, we will explore in more detail what this disorder consists of, what are its clinical manifestations, how the endocannabinoid system acts, as well as the role that cannabinoids can have on the stress and fear experienced by people who suffer from the dreaded post-traumatic stress disorder.