TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Discontinuing cannabis improves depression in people with multiple sclerosis: a short report
JO  - Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Laboratory Research
A1  - Feinstein, Anthony
A1  - Meza, Cecilia
A1  - Stefan, Cristiana
A1  - Staines, W. Richard
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1352-4585
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1352458520934070
ID  - ref1
ER  -