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Cited by 166Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchMedicinal Plant Extracts EffectsParkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Medical Cannabis for Psychiatric, Movement and Neurodegenerative Disorders

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Lim, Keane, See, Yuen Mei, Lee, Jimmy·2017·Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
DOI 10.9758/cpn.2017.15.4.301PMC PMC5678490
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Abstract

The discovery of endocannabinoid's role within the central nervous system and its potential therapeutic benefits have brought forth rising interest in the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The present review aimed to synthesize and evaluate the available evidences on the efficacy of cannabis and its derivatives for psychiatric, neurodegenerative and movement disorders. A systematic search of randomized controlled trials of cannabis and its derivatives were conducted via databases (PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). A total of 24 reports that evaluated the use of medical cannabis for Alzheimer's disease, anorexia nervosa, anxiety, dementia, dystonia, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis and Tourette syndrome were included in this review. Trial quality was assessed with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. There is a lack of evidence on the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dystonia. Although trials with positive findings were identified for anorexia nervosa, anxiety, PTSD, psychotic symptoms, agitation in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, Huntington's disease, and Tourette syndrome, and dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease, definitive conclusion on its efficacy could not be drawn. Evaluation of these low-quality trials, as rated on the Cochrane risk of bias tools, was challenged by methodological issues such as inadequate description of allocation concealment, blinding and underpowered sample size. More adequately powered controlled trials that examine the long and short term efficacy, safety and tolerability of cannabis for medical use, and the mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic potential are warranted.

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  • The paucity of data does not allow any guidance on the therapeutic use of cannabinoids for treating mental disorders within a regulatory framework.

    “The paucity of data does not allow any guidance on the therapeutic use of cannabinoids for treating mental disorders within a regulatory framework [102].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [102]

    The Conclusion (page not available) says the low-quality, underpowered trials do not permit a sufficient conclusion about cannabinoids’ benefits, including for psychiatric conditions. This supports the lack-of-evidence point, but the paper does not address guidance within a regulatory framework. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Lim, K., See, Y. M., & Lee, J.
Affiliations
Institute of Mental Health (SG)
Corresponding author
Lee, Jimmy
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
Publisher
Korean College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2017-11-30
Volume
15
Issue
4
Pages
301-312
ISSN
  • 1738-1088 (ISSN-L)
  • 2093-4327
DOI
10.9758/cpn.2017.15.4.301
PMC
PMC5678490
OpenAlex
W2765769328
Cited by
166
References
7
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 1
FWCI
1.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Ministry of Health -Singapore(MOH) (NMRC/CG/004/2013)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
medical cannabis, cannabinoids, mental illness, movement disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, anorexia nervosa, Tourette syndrome, dystonia, dyskinesia, agitation, endocannabinoid system

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