Understanding cannabis use and mental health difficulties in context with women's experiences of stressful events and social health issues in pregnancy: The Aboriginal Families Study.

BACKGROUND: Few population-based data sources fully recognise the intersections between stressful events, social health issues, and cannabis use in pregnancy, and little is known about sequelae for women's mental health. METHODS: We draw on two waves of population-based data for 344 families participating in the Aboriginal Families Study longitudinal cohort. We examine women's mental health in the first year postpartum and when children were aged 5-9 years in context with life experiences and use of cannabis in pregnancy. OUTCOMES: One in five women (19·5%) used cannabis during pregnancy (with or without co-use of tobacco). Within this group of women, 88·3% experienced 3 or more (3+) stressful events or social health issues. Psychological distress (Kessler-5 scale, K-5) in the year postpartum was substantially higher amongst women who had used cannabis or experienced 3+ stressful events or social health issues. High proportions of women met criteria for support and referral for depression and/or anxiety (52·5% of women who had used cannabis compared to 20·9% amongst women who had neither used cannabis nor tobacco; 43·2% of women who had experienced 3+ stressful events or social health issues compared to 15·6% amongst women who had not indicated these experiences). Similar patterns of psychological distress, depressive (9-item adapted Personal Health Questionnaire, aPHQ-9) and anxiety symptoms (7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder score, GAD-7) were evident when the study children were aged 5-9 years. INTERPRETATION: Amongst women who had used cannabis in pregnancy, a high burden of psychological distress, depression, and anxiety is evident in the postpartum period and as their children turn 5-9 years. The overlay of stressful events and social health issues and the high proportion of women meeting criteria for referral for mental health assessment and support indicate an urgent need to offer women opportunities for safe disclosure of cannabis use and opportunities to access sustained holistic services. Reducing the harms of cannabis use on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families must be coupled with culturally safe ways of addressing the social, historical, and structural determinants of mental health distress and harmful use of substances.

Utilização da cannabis sativa para tratamento de dor crônica em cães / Use of cannabis sativa for the treatment of chronic pain in dogs / Uso de cannabis sativa para el tratamiento del dolor crónico en perros

A Cannabis sativa é uma planta que apresenta vários benefícios terapêuticos para animais, como tratamento da dor neuropática, inflamatória e osteoartrose. A dor é bastante recorrente na rotina clínica, sendo importante seu manejo para que seja ofertada uma melhor qualidade e conforto de vida para o paciente. O estudo objetivou identificar, a partir de evidências científicas, as características da utilização medicinal do uso de Cannabis Sativa no tratamento da dor crônica no cão, utilizando um dos seus princípios ativos, canabidiol (CBD). Foi feito uma revisão bibliográfica onde foi realizada a busca de estudos experimentais e relatos de caso em bases de dados eletrônicos, sendo incluídas fontes contendo a utilização do CBD em animais, que abordaram controle da dor, assim como escore avaliativo da dor antes, durante e após o tratamento proposto. Após eleger e analisar 54 estudos percebe-se que na medicina veterinária o uso do canabidio é insuficiente, uma vez que o foco da maior parte dos estudos clínicos é voltado para medicina humana. Ainda assim, a utilização de CBD mostrou-se eficaz, confirmando uma nova alternativa para o controle da dor em animais.(AU)

Cannabis sativa is a plant that has several therapeutic benefits for animals, such as the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain and osteoarthritis. Pain is quite recurrent in the clinical routine, and its management is important to offer a better quality and comfort of life for the patient. The study aimed to identify, based on scientific evidence, the characteristics of the medicinal use of Cannabis Sativa in the treatment of chronic pain in dogs, using one of its active principles, cannabidiol (CBD). A bibliographical review was carried out in which experimental studies and case reports were searched in electronic databases, including sources containing the use of CBD in animals, which addressed pain control, as well as pain assessment score before, during and after the proposed treatment. After choosing and analyzing 54 studies, it is clear that in veterinary medicine the use of CBD is few, and the focus of clinical studies is on human medicine. The use of CBD proved to be effective, thus confirming a new alternative for pain control in animals.(AU)

El cannabis sativa es una planta que tiene varios beneficios terapéuticos para los animales, como el tratamiento del dolor neuropático e inflamatorio y la osteoartritis. El dolor es bastante recurrente en la rutina clínica, y su manejo es importante para ofrecer una mejor calidad y comodidad de vida al paciente. El estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar, con base en la evidencia científica, las características del uso medicinal de Cannabis Sativa en el tratamiento del dolor crónico en perros, utilizando uno de sus principios activos, el cannabidiol (CBD). Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en la que se buscaron estudios experimentales y reportes de casos en bases de datos electrónicas, incluyendo fuentes que contengan el uso de CBD en animales, que abordaran el control del dolor, así como la puntuación de evaluación del dolor antes, durante y después del tratamiento propuesto. Después de elegir y analizar 54 estudios, queda claro que en medicina veterinaria el uso de cannabidio es insuficiente, ya que el foco de la mayoría de los estudios clínicos está en la medicina humana. Aun así, el uso de CBD demostró ser efectivo, confirmando una nueva alternativa para el control del dolor en animales.(AU)

Understanding and Addressing the Unique Challenges and Conditions of the Veteran: Improving Sleep and Well-Being.

Veterans are those who have served our country in one of the branches of armed forces or military reserves. The Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health system in the nation, providing health care services and latest research for veterans. Non-Veteran Health Administration primary care clinicians, who also take care of veterans, deserve to have an understanding of the unique challenges and conditions these individuals face and the resources that are available to improve sleep health and well-being of all veterans. This article guides these clinicians to manage sleep disorders, mental health disorders, and substance use among veterans.

Efficacy of topical capsaicin for the treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a clinical disorder characterized by abdominal pain and intractable vomiting among patients with chronic marijuana use. We sought to assess the efficacy of capsaicin to determine whether it could reduce ED length of stay in patients with CHS. METHODS: his retrospective observational study was conducted among patients with CHS. Patients were classified based on whether they received capsaicin, which was pseudorandomized and dependent on the pharmacist available. Outcomes included time to discharge, number of medications given, bounceback rate, and admission rate. Statistical analyses included t-tests, survival analyses, and cox regressions. RESULTS: 55 patients (35 capsaicin, 20 no capsaicin) met inclusion criteria. There was no difference in time to discharge between the experimental and control groups (4.46 h vs 3.52 h, p = 0.10), rounds of medications given (2.60 vs 3.54, p = 0.09), bounceback rate within 24 h (0.11 vs 0.10, p = 0.43), or admission rate to the hospital (0.19 vs 0.05, p = 0.07). A survival analysis and cox regression showed no difference in time to discharge. A subgroup analysis between patients who received capsaicin within their first two rounds of treatment had statistically significantly shorter length of stays than patients who received capsaicin afterwards, (4.83 h vs 7.09 h, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Topical capsaicin was not associated with shorter length of stays than no capsaicin. When given earlier during an ED visit, it is associated with a shorter length of stay than when given later.

Cannabis consumption and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A three years longitudinal study in first episode non-affective psychosis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Increased incidence of obesity and excess weight lead to an increased incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent evidence indicates a protective effect of cannabis consumption on weight gain and related metabolic alterations in psychosis patients. Overall, patients are at greater risk of presenting fatty diseases, such as NAFLD, partly due to lipid and glycemic metabolic disturbances. However, there are no previous studies on the likely effect of cannabis on liver steatosis. We aimed to explore if cannabis consumption had an effect on hepatic steatosis, in a sample of first-episode (FEP) non-affective psychosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 390 patients were evaluated at baseline and after 3 years of initiating the antipsychotic treatment. Anthropometric measurements and liver, lipid, and glycemic parameters were obtained at both time points. All but 6.7% of patients were drug-naïve at entry, and they self-reported their cannabis use at both time points. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated through validated clinical scores (Fatty Liver Index [FLI], Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4], and NAFLD). RESULTS: At 3-year follow-up, cannabis users presented significantly lower FLI scores than non-users (F = 13.874; p < .001). Moreover, cannabis users less frequently met the criteria for liver steatosis than non-users (X2 = 7.97, p = .019). Longitudinally, patients maintaining cannabis consumption after 3 years presented the smallest increment in FLI over time, which was significantly smaller than the increment in FLI presented by discontinuers (p = .022) and never-users (p = .016). No differences were seen in fibrosis scores associated with cannabis. CONCLUSIONS: Cannabis consumption may produce a protective effect against liver steatosis in psychosis, probably through the modulation of antipsychotic-induced weight gain.

Marijuana and Psychosis: Policy Implications for Treatment Providers.

In 2017, the annual prevalence of marijuana use rose to 24% among 8th to 12th graders, despite decreases in rates of other illicit substance use.1 This is of concern, as increasing use is coupled with declining perception of harm among adolescents,1 increasing potency of cannabis,2 ease of adolescents' access to marijuana,1 and progressive medicalization and legalization of marijuana. Exposure to high levels of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol through cannabis use triggers repeated activation of the endogenous mesolimbic dopaminergic system, desensitization, and progressive enhancement of acquired susceptibility to psychosis.3.

Impact of cannabis legalization on treatment and research priorities for cannabis use disorder.

An increasing proportion of the world has legalized cannabis for medicinal or recreational use. The legalization trend appears to be continuing. These changes in the legislative landscape may have important health, treatment, and research implications. This review discusses public health outcomes that may be impacted by increases in cannabis availability and use. It additionally considers potential research and treatment priorities in the face of widespread cannabis legalization.

Cannabis for Chronic Pain: Challenges and Considerations.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found substantial evidence that cannabis (plant) is effective for the treatment of chronic pain in adults, and moderate evidence that oromucosal cannabinoids (extracts, especially nabiximols) improve short-term sleep disturbances in chronic pain. The paradoxical superiority of the cannabis plant over cannabinoid molecules represents a challenge for the medical community and the established processes that define modern pharmacy. The expanding and variable legalization of cannabis in multiple states nationwide represents an additional challenge for patients and the medical community because recreational and medicinal cannabis are irresponsibly overlapped. Cannabis designed for recreational use (containing high levels of active ingredients) is increasingly available to patients with chronic pain who do not find relief with current pharmacologic entities, which exposes patients to potential harm. This article analyzes the available scientific evidence to address controversial questions that the current state of cannabis poses for health care professionals and chronic pain patients and sets the basis for a more open discussion about the role of cannabis in modern medicine for pain management. A critical discussion on these points, the legal status of cannabis, and considerations for health care providers is presented.

Marijuana Use and Organ Transplantation: a Review and Implications for Clinical Practice.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Physicians of all disciplines must rapidly adjust their clinical practices following the expansion of marijuana legalization across the country. Organ transplantation teams are uniquely struggling in this gray zone with eight states having passed laws explicitly banning the denial of transplant listing based on a patient's use of medical marijuana. In this review, we examine the clinical evidence of marijuana use in transplant patients to enable psychiatric providers to meaningfully contribute to the relevant medical and psychiatric aspects of this issue in a unique patient population. RECENT FINDINGS: There is no consensus among experts regarding marijuana use in transplantation patients. There are extant case reports of post-transplant complications attributed to marijuana use including membranous glomerulonephritis, ventricular tachycardia, and tacrolimus toxicity. However, recent studies suggest that the overall survival rates in kidney, liver, lung, and heart transplant patients using marijuana are equivalent to non-users. Transplant teams should not de facto exclude marijuana users from transplant listing but instead holistically evaluate a patient's candidacy, integrating meaningful medical, psychiatric, and social variables into the complex decision-making process. Psychiatric providers can play a key role in this process. Appropriate stewardship over donor organs, a limited and precious resource, will require a balance of high-clinical standards with inclusive efforts to treat as many patients as possible.

Cannabis and Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Change Blossoms a Mile High.

The trend toward decriminalization of cannabis (marijuana) continues sweeping across the United States. Colorado has been a leader of legalization of medical and recreational cannabis use. The growing public interest in the medicinal properties of cannabis and its use by patients with a variety of illnesses including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) makes it important for pediatric gastroenterologists to understand this movement and its potential effect on patients. This article describes the path to legalization and "medicalization" of cannabis in Colorado and the public perception of safety despite the known adverse health effects of use. We delineate the mammalian endocannabinoid system and our experience of caring for children and adolescents with IBD in an environment of increasing awareness and acceptance of its use. We then summarize the rationale for considering that cannabis may have beneficial and harmful effects for patients with IBD. Finally, we highlight the challenges federal laws impose on conducting research on cannabis in IBD. The intent of this article is to inform health care providers about the issues around cannabis use and research in adolescents and young adults with IBD.

Prevalence and Patterns of Marijuana Use in Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies in adults report symptom relief with marijuana use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We assessed the prevalence, pattern, effects, and adverse effects of marijuana use in young adults with IBD. METHODS: We conducted a prospective questionnaire survey study at a pediatric IBD clinic. All patients (18-21 years of age) answered anonymous questionnaires about demographics, IBD, medications, and marijuana use. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (mean age 18.7 years, 32 boys) were enrolled. Thirty-seven patients (70%) reported using marijuana currently or in the past. There was no statistically significant difference between the users and nonusers of marijuana regarding demographics, disease activity, or medications. Despite prolonged use of marijuana, 70% of patients did not discuss it with their gastroenterologists. Twenty-four patients used marijuana medicinally for IBD symptoms in addition to medical therapy. Although majority found marijuana to be moderately/very helpful, complete relief of symptoms such as abdominal pain, poor appetite, nausea, and diarrhea was seen in 29%, 37%, 14%, and 10% of patients, respectively. Only half of patients reported knowledge of possible adverse effects of marijuana and 19% of patients reported mild neuropsychiatric adverse effects. Overall, 98% of patients supported legalization of marijuana and 85% were interested in using medical marijuana if it became legally available. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high rate of marijuana use in our cohort of young adults with IBD. Majority of users report symptom improvement but do not inform physicians. Future well-controlled studies are necessary to assess role of marijuana in IBD therapy.