New study suggests THC may have a positive effect on PTSD symptoms

After consuming their pills and THC reaching its peak effect, investigators provided participants with emotional regulation tasks

A new U.S. study seems to support the idea that THC has a positive effect on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Published in the journal Neuropharmacology and conducted by researchers from Wayne State University, the small study signals that the combination of a specific type of therapy and moderate amounts of THC were particularly beneficial for people with PTSD.

Participants were scanned on a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which measures the small changes in blood flow that occur with brain activity, while researchers conducted regular check-ins on their mental state.

After consuming their pills and THC reaching its peak effect, investigators provided participants with emotional regulation tasks, such as displaying triggering images and repeating this process. The goal of the exercise was to have participants reappraise the images and, thus, help to successfully regulate their emotions.

Results showed that participants who had consumed THC were able to reduce and manage their negative emotions. The compound also activated areas of participants’ brains normally stunted in people with PTSD.

“THC may prove to be a beneficial pharmacological adjunct to cognitive reappraisal therapy in the treatment of PTSD,” study authors wrote.

The study isn’t the first to find a link between THC and PTSD, but it is the first to indicate THC’s potential impact during cognitive reappraisal tasks for individuals with PTSD. If patients can successfully reappraise their emotions, they may be more likely to repeat this behaviour, thereby helping to reduce anxiety and negative responses in the future.

Some PTSD patients have proved vocal proponents of the benefits of medicinal cannabis, with many claiming THC helps them with their migraines, panic attacks and overwhelming emotions.