Study: Cannabis may help relieve insomnia in people suffering from depression and anxiety
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According to a new study published in BMC Psychiatry, cannabis may improve sleep in people suffering from depression and/or anxiety.
Sleep disorders often occur as part of various mental disorders and are difficult to treat. Often a cycle occurs that makes things worse: insomnia can make depression worse, and depression can cause insomnia. Although it is estimated that around 10-30% (with other studies claiming even higher percentages) of the world’s population suffer from insomnia, there are not many effective treatments for it.
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As marijuana becomes more popular and its legal status slowly but steadily changes around the world, there is a greater need for more scientific research.
The authors of the new study noted that the results “confirm the need for placebo-controlled trials investigating the symptom improvement and safety of cannabinoids for sleep in individuals with mood and anxiety disorders.”
Study Highlights
The study analyzed data from 100 participants with depression, 463 participants with anxiety, and 114 participants with both. They were followed for three years (2017 to 2020) via an app where they reported their sleep-related symptoms and marijuana use details. Participants also noted demographic information.
Participants recorded the type, form, and dosage of cannabis they used, then rated their symptoms after each use.
The results?
The study found that CBD-dominant and indica strains are the most common choices of people suffering from depression. Indica and indica hybrids have been the main choices for people with anxiety or both depression and anxiety. The majority of participants consumed cannabis in dried flower form.
Was it helpful? It found that marijuana could significantly help with depression in those under 45, but not so much in those over 45. For those dealing with anxiety, cannabis helped with symptoms in all age groups, while the 35-44 age group experienced more beneficial effects than the 25-34 group. Participants of all ages suffering from both conditions also found marijuana helpful.
Study Restrictions
Key limitations included that participants self-reported, meaning they may not have had a diagnosis of their conditions.
Everything else was also self-reported – symptoms, usage, effects, etc.
“This scientific review of cannabis use for insomnia suggests that individuals with depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression and anxiety perceive benefits from using cannabis for sleep, although the extent to which this compares pharmacological efficacy versus response expectations (i.e., placebo effects), this cannot be determined,” the study authors said.
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Nevertheless, the authors concluded: “The results of the scientific study may provide a better understanding of the profiles of cannabis use in insomnia, while providing valuable information for future studies aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of cannabis for therapeutic purposes.”
This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.
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