Cannabinoid regulation of fear and anxiety: an update

Papagianni, Eleni P.; Stevenson, Carl W.

Abstract

Purpose of Review
Anxiety- and trauma-related disorders are prevalent and debilitating mental illnesses associated with a significant socioeconomic burden. Current treatment approaches often have inadequate therapeutic responses, leading to symptom relapse. Here we review recent preclinical and clinical findings on the potential of cannabinoids as novel therapeutics for regulating fear and anxiety.

Recent Findings
Evidence from preclinical studies has shown that the non-psychotropic phytocannabinoid cannabidiol and the endocannabinoid anandamide have acute anxiolytic effects and also regulate learned fear by dampening its expression, enhancing its extinction and disrupting its reconsolidation. The findings from the relevant clinical literature are still very preliminary but are nonetheless encouraging.

Summary
Based on this preclinical evidence, larger-scale placebo-controlled clinical studies are warranted to investigate the effects of cannabidiol in particular as an adjunct to psychological therapy or medication to determine its potential utility for treating anxiety-related disorders in the future.

Citation

Papagianni, E. P., & Stevenson, C. W. (2019). Cannabinoid regulation of fear and anxiety: an update. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(6), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1026-z

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 26, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Apr 27, 2019
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 1, 2019
• Journal: Current Psychiatry Reports
• Print ISSN: 1523-3812
• Electronic ISSN: 1535-1645
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 38
• Pages: 1-10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1026-z
• Keywords: cannabidiol; consolidation; endocannabinoid; extinction; fear conditioning; reconsolidation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1752613
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11920-019-1026-z
• Additional Information: First Online: 27 April 2019; : ; : Eleni P. Papagianni’s PhD studentship was funded in part by Artelo Biosciences, a biopharmaceutical company with interests in the development and commercialization of cannabinoid-based medicines. Artelo Biosciences had no involvement in any aspect of this review.Carl W. Stevenson declares no potential conflict of interest.; : All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards (including the Helsinki declaration and its amendments, institutional/national research committee standards, and international/national/institutional guidelines).