COMMENT|ONLINE FIRST
Published:October 28, 2019DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30375-X
There is a pressing need to develop new medications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. There is growing public interest in the use of cannabis and its principal constituent cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol, for a plethora of conditions, including psychiatric disorders. 1
In parallel, there is considerable commercial interest in touting these products as treatments for various disorders. As a result, health practitioners need to be well informed about this topic. However, although the potential therapeutic use of cannabinoids receives substantial coverage in the media, more scientific information is needed about this topic that is based on careful systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Although there have been a few reviews of existing evidence have been published, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 none has considered all the available evidence, the potential differential effects of different cannabinoids, and the safety of these compounds in mental disorders. The review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Psychiatry by Nicola Black and colleagues 7 therefore addresses some of these limitations.
In parallel, there is considerable commercial interest in touting these products as treatments for various disorders. As a result, health practitioners need to be well informed about this topic. However, although the potential therapeutic use of cannabinoids receives substantial coverage in the media, more scientific information is needed about this topic that is based on careful systematic reviews or meta-analyses. Although there have been a few reviews of existing evidence have been published, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 none has considered all the available evidence, the potential differential effects of different cannabinoids, and the safety of these compounds in mental disorders. The review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Psychiatry by Nicola Black and colleagues 7 therefore addresses some of these limitations.
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Article Info
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Published: October 28, 2019
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© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.