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Table 2 Effects of THC, dronabinol, nabilone or THC and CBD on anxiety-related responses

From: Effects of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol on aversive memories and anxiety: a review from human studies

Drug(s), dose(s), treatment regimen, and route of administration

Study’s design

Main results

Sex

Age in years

Health status

Cannabis consume

Reference

THC 10 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↑ anxiety on VAMS

18–42

Healthy

Non-users

[79]

THC 10 mg, acute, v.o.

Pseudorandomized,

double-blind, placebo-controlled

THC ↑ anxiety on STAI and VAMS; ↑ SCR and left amygdala activity viewing fearful faces

20–42

Healthy

Non-users

[80]

THC 10 mg, acute, v.o.

Pseudorandomized, double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↑ anxiety on STAI; ↑ CB1 activation in right amygdala while viewing fearful faces

23.79 ± 4.45

Healthy

Non-users

[81]

THC 10 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↑ anxiety on STAI in both groups;

↑ left fusiform gyrus, and ↓ left precuneus, cuneus and posterior cingulate activity in Cannabis users

26 ± 5.6

Healthy

Users and non-users

[82]

THC 10 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

THC ↑ anxiety on STAI, ↑ SCR, ↑ activity of right inferior, right superior and left medial frontal gyrus and ↓ left precuneus during the processing of fearful faces

18–35

Healthy

Non-users

[83]

Nabilone 2.0 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↔ anxiety during a non-traumatic psychological stress

18–30

Healthy

Non-users

[89]

Dronabinol 7.5 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↔ anxiety; ↓ amygdala reactivity viewing fearful faces

♂ ♀

18–28

Healthy

Non-users

[90]

Dronabinol 7.5 or 12.5 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

7.5 mg ↓ stress reactivity on VAS;

12.5 mg ↑ stress reactivity and anxiety on POMS

♂ ♀

18–40

Healthy

Non-users

[91]

THC 0.5 mg/kg + CBD 1.0 mg/kg, acute, v.o.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled

THC ↑ anxiety on STAI;

CBD ↓ the THC effects

♂ ♀

20–38

Healthy

Non-users

[92]

THC 30 mg +

CBD 15, 30 or 60 mg, acute, v.o.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled

THC ↑ anxiety; CBD 30 or 60 mg ↓ most of the effects of THC

adults

Healthy

Non-users

[93]

THC ~ 14 mg, acute, via inhalation (smoked)

Double-blind

↔ anxiety on MAACL-T;

↓ SCR and forearm blood flow

18–29

Healthy

Users

[94]

THC 1.8% or 3.6% + CBD 0.2% or 1.0%, acute; smoked

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

THC 3.6% ↑ anxiety; THC 3.6% + CBD 1.0% ↔ anxiety; THC 3.6% + CBD 0.2% ↑ anxiety; THC 1.8% ↔ anxiety; THC 1.8% + CBD 1.0% ↑ anxiety; THC 1.8% + CBD 0.2% ↔ anxiety

♂ ♀

21–45

Healthy

Users

[95]

THC 5.0 or 15 mg; “low” Sativex® (THC 5.4 mg + CBD 5.0 mg CBD); or “high” Sativex® (THC 16.2 mg + CBD 15 mg); acute, v.o. and oromucosal

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↑ anxiety with THC 5 or 15 mg;

↔ anxiety with “low” Sativex®

↑ anxiety with “high” Sativex®

♂ ♀

18–45

Healthy

Users

[96]

Nabilone 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 or 5.0 mg, acute, v.o.

Single-blind,

placebo-controlled

1.0 and 2.0 mg ↓ anxiety on POMS

♂ ♀

adults

Anxious

Non-users

[97]

Phase 1: nabilone 1.0–10 mg; Phase 2: nabilone 1.0 mg; 28 days t.i.d. administration

Phase 1: Open-label

Phase 2: Double-blind,

placebo-controlled

↓ anxiety

♂ ♀

19–41

Anxious

Non-users

[98]

THC 5.0 mg, 21 days t.i.d. administration, v.o.

Open-label

↓ anxiety and improved global symptoms

♂ ♀

adults

PTSD

Non-users

[99]

Dronabinol 7.5 mg, acute, v.o.

Randomized,

double-blind,

placebo-controlled

THC ↓ amygdala activation during threatening faces on PTSD patients and during non-threatening faces on healthy controls; ↑ mPFC/rACC-amygdala functional connectivity

↔ anxiety on STAI

♂ ♀

20–45

PTSD, trauma exposed, and healthy controls

Non-users

[100]

  1. Legend: ↑ = increase; ↓ = reduction; ↔ = no change; ♂ = male; ♀ = female; v.o. = oral route; t.i.d. Twice in day; mPFC Medial prefrontal cortex; rACC Rostral anterior cingulate cortex; STAI STATE Trait Anxiety Inventory; VAMS Visual Analogue Mood Scale; VAS Visual Analogue Scale; POMS Profile of Mood State; SCR Skin conductance response