title: Psychopathological and cognitive effects of therapeutic cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study possible psychopathological symptoms and cognitive deficits, abuse induction, as well as general tolerability and effects on quality of life, fatigue and motor function in cannabis-naïve patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with a free-dose cannabis plant extract (Sativex).
  
  
  METHODS
  In an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group crossover trial, 17 cannabis-naïve patients with MS were assessed at baseline and at the end of the cannabis and placebo phases of the trial (each of 3 weeks) by means of Symptom Checklist-90 Revised, Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (of which 1 dimension is the Paced Auditory Serial Additional Test that was used to evaluate cognition), Visual Analogue Scale on health-related quality of life, Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29, and Fatigue Severity Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postplacebo versus postcannabinoid scores showed that no significant differences could be detected on all the variables under study. A significant positive correlation was found between Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol blood levels and scores at the General Symptomatic Index and at the "interpersonal sensitivity," "aggressive behaviour," and "paranoiac tendencies" subscales of the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. No serious adverse events, abuse tendencies, or direct withdrawal symptoms were reported. Increased desire for Sativex with secondary depression was reported in 1 subject.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabinoid treatment did not induce psychopathology and did not impair cognition in cannabis-naïve patients with MS. However, the positive correlation between blood levels of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and psychopathological scores suggests that at dosages higher than those used in therapeutic settings, interpersonal sensitivity, aggressiveness, and paranoiac features might arise, although greater statistical power would be necessary to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onesti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomassini
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gilio
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pantano
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pozzilli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inghilleri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D002185:Cannabidiol; C016780:11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid; D013759:Dronabinol