Understanding the Role of Endocannabinoids in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder is often treatment-resistant and recent research has suggested that treatment outcomes might be improved by modulation of the endocannabinoid system. The current review article describes animal and human research examining the effect of endocannabinoid modulation on posttraumatic symptoms, behaviours, and relevant memory processes. While the preclinical literature is reasonably consistent, emerging human literature is mixed. This review explores some potential reasons for why human research in this field is inconsistent and proposes multiple avenues for future research to answer these questions. Clinical trials testing the logistical challenges of cannabinoid administration and carefully designed human experimental studies are urgently required before cannabinoid therapy can be considered as an approach for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.