Medical Cannabis Mitigates Symptoms Of Autism In Israel Clinical Trial
International researchers estimate that roughly 1 out of every 100 children has autism. Autism is often characterized by the patient experiencing some degree of difficulty with social interactions and communication, as well as difficulty with transitioning from one activity to another, focusing, and unusual reactions to sensations.
It is still largely unknown what causes autism. People diagnosed with autism battle the condition for their whole lives, although various treatments and therapies can help with the development, health, well-being, and quality of life of autistic people.
Health experts in Israel recently conducted a clinical trial involving medical cannabis therapies and autistic trial participants. Below is more information about the study and its results via a news release from NORML:
Haifa, Israel: Preparations of CBD-rich cannabis reduce anxiety and other autistic symptoms in children, according to data published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Israeli scientists assessed the efficacy of CBD-dominant cannabis extracts in a cohort of 65 children (ages 5-12 years) with autism. Study participants consumed customized doses of cannabis extracts for six months.
Researchers reported: “We observed significant differences in the autistic children’s overall anxiety and in some anxiety subtypes. Significant improvements were observed in RRBI [restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests], including the total score, and specifically in compulsive, ritualistic, and sameness behaviors.”
The study’s authors concluded: “Our study suggests positive implications for CBD-rich cannabis treatment in alleviating anxiety and RRBI symptoms in autistic children. … We strongly recommend further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies using standardized assessments to validate these findings.”
The findings are consistent with those of numerous other studies showing that cannabinoid treatment provides symptom improvements in children with autism. Observational studies have also shown that the use of cannabis can provide benefits to adults with autism.
Full text of the study, “Effects of medical cannabis treatment for autistic children on anxiety and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests: An open-label study,” appears in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. Additional information on cannabinoids and ASD is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.