According to a study conducted by researchers from eight universities, cannabinoids may be effective in managing core symptoms of Tourette Syndrome.
A new systematic review and meta-analysis has found that cannabis-based medications may significantly reduce the severity of tics and premonitory urges in individuals with Tourette Syndrome. The study was conducted by researchers from eight different universities, including Mansoura University, Alexandria University, South Valley University, Damanhour University, Al-Quds University, Kafrelsheikh University, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Published in the journal Neurology, the study analyzed data from nine clinical and cohort studies involving 401 adults diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Of those, three studies met the criteria for meta-analysis. The researchers used the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS), and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) to assess treatment efficacy.
The findings revealed statistically significant reductions in tic severity and premonitory urges among patients treated with cannabis or cannabinoid-based medicines. YGTSS scores showed a mean decrease of 23.71 points, while PUTS scores dropped by an average of 5.36 points. No significant change was observed in obsessive-compulsive symptoms as measured by Y-BOCS.
“The present study suggests favorable and potentially effective results with cannabinoids in reducing the severity of tics and premonitory urges and increasing quality of life”, concludes the study, with researchers noting that “Larger studies with more representative samples are needed.”
