@article{ref1,
title="Discontinuing cannabis improves depression in people with multiple sclerosis: a short report",
journal="Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Laboratory Research",
year="2020",
author="Feinstein, Anthony and Meza, Cecilia and Stefan, Cristiana and Staines, W. Richard",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="To assess whether symptoms of depression change when people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) discontinue cannabis use, 40 cognitively impaired pwMS who smoked cannabis almost daily were randomly assigned to either a cannabis continuation (CC) or cannabis withdrawal (CW) group. Both groups were followed for 28 days. All participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. At day 28 the 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THCCOOH)/creatinine ratio in the CW group declined to zero (p = 0.0001), but remained unchanged in the CC group (p = 0.709). Depression scores in those pwMS who were using cannabis to manage their depression remained statistically unchanged in the CC group, but declined in the CW group (p = 0.006). Despite pwMS using cannabis to help their mood, depression improved significantly off the drug. Our finding provides a cautionary note in relation to cannabis use in pwMS, at least with respect to depression.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1352-4585",
doi="10.1177/1352458520934070",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1352458520934070"
}