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Chapter 11 - Cannabis and Anxiety

from Part IV - Cannabis, Anxiety, and Mood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2023

By
Grace Lethbridge ,
Beth Patterson  and
Michael Van Ameringen
Edited by
Deepak Cyril D'Souza ,
David Castle  and
Sir Robin Murray
Deepak Cyril D'Souza
Affiliation:
Staff Psychiatrist, VA Connecticut Healthcare System; Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine
David Castle
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Australia
Sir Robin Murray
Affiliation:
Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychosis Service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust; Professor of Psychiatric Research at the Institute of Psychiatry
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Summary

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health disorders; however, first-line treatments are often associated with low rates of response and intolerable side-effects, leading many individuals to search for alternative treatments. Cannabis has become legalized for both recreational and/or medical use in several countries. Although many patients with anxiety disorders report using cannabis to treat their anxiety symptoms, the current research does not provide strong evidence to support this. This chapter reviews the current literature on cannabinoids in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Keywords

anxiety disorderscannabiscannabidioldelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Type
Chapter
Information
Marijuana and Madness , pp. 107 - 119
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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