Post-traumatic stress disorder can happen to anyone. While not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will have PTSD, many will. PTSD is one of several trauma and stressor-related disorders found in the DSM 5. It is commonly treated with a combination of psychotherapy and psychiatric medications, but research findings are encouraging on CBD’s ability to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Overview of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined as a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic, shocking, dangerous or intensely stressful event. It affects both the mind and body and is related to the brain’s “extinction process”, which helps to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories.
Symptoms
For those who develop PTSD, symptoms may appear within 3 months of the traumatic event or experience. Some individuals will experience symptoms several months to a few years later. Symptoms include:
- Nightmares
- Sleeping difficulties
- Feelings of guilt or shame
- Negative mood and thinking
- Avoidance of thinking or talking about the trauma
- Flashbacks
- Easily frightened or alarmed
- Always on guard
- Avoiding places or activities
- Poor concentration
- Aggressive behavior
- Loss of interest
- Substance misuse
Diagnosis
These symptoms can range from mild, to moderate and severe. They may occur occasionally or more frequently. To be diagnosed with PTSD, a variety of these symptoms must be present for more than one month and severe enough to interfere with many areas of the person’s life, work, and relationships. The course of the illness varies. Some will recover within a few months while others will experience symptoms for years and some people will have PTSD for the rest of their lives.
Prevalence
Around 7-8% of the U.S. population, or 7 or 8 out of every 100, will have PTSD at some time throughout their lives. Roughly 8 million adults have PTSD in any given year. Ten out of every 100 women (10%) and 4 out of every 100 men (4%) will develop PTSD at some point in their lives.
Veterans
The prevalence is far higher for veterans of wars. Between 11-20% of military personnel who served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom will have PTSD in any given year. Among those who served in the Gulf War or Desert Storm, 12% will develop PTSD sometime throughout their lives. The highest percentage of veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder are those who served in Vietnam. Over 30% are living with PTSD.
World Wars I and II
PTSD existed long before these wars, but was called “battle fatigue” or “shell shock” during World Wars I and II. The condition wasn’t called PTSD until thousands of soldiers coming home from the Vietnam War showed signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, guilt, insomnia, nightmares, flashbacks and the inability to be close to loved ones. It was in 1980 that PTSD was officially added to the DSM 3.
First Responders
Rates of PTSD also run higher among first responders including emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, firefighters, and police officers. It is estimated that around 30% of first responders develop emotional and behavioral conditions including depression and PTSD. Firefighters have a higher rate of suicidal thinking and attempts than the general population and between 125 and 300 police officers commit suicide annually.
Research Findings – The Endocannabinoid System
Studies examining the use of CBD for PTSD go back to 2008, where researchers in Virginia found that the endocannabinoid system affects learning and forgetting about both pleasant and unpleasant experiences. The endocannabinoids system plays a role in the extinction of avoidance-motivated behaviors, a key feature of PTSD.
Nabilone
Canadian researchers examined the effects of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, and found that 72% of the patients in their study experienced either a cessation of nightmares or a significant reduction in nightmare intensity. Some reported improvements in sleep time and quality, night sweats, and a reduction in flashbacks.
CB1 Receptors and the Amygdala
Another study in Israel discovered that the amygdala, the fear-processing part of the limbic system, contains a large number of CB1 receptors. Researchers injected a synthetic cannabinoid into the brains of rats with PTSD symptoms and discovered that it reduced anxiety, a gradual decrease in the response to conditioned stimulus, and inhibitory avoidance (memory of the trauma).
A Lesson from 9/11
In 2013, an important paper was published examining the reductions in endocannabinoid levels in people with PTSD following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York. Researchers reported that they had evidence of a reduction in circulating endocannabinoid levels in people with PTSD after being exposed to the traumatic event. They believe that deficient endocannabinoid signaling may be a part of the glucocorticoid dysregulation (significant inflammation-associated neural damage) associated with PTSD.
The bottom line is that it appears the endocannabinoid system plays a critical role in the control of emotions. It might be able to regulate the fear response which is common among so many people with PTSD and CBD may also be effective in reducing the fear associated with this disorder.
More Research Findings
A research team from the UK and Brazil found that CBD treats both anxiety-related disorders as well as substance abuse disorders. CBD reduces fear memory expression and learned fear expression which are both associated with PTSD.
An important study in Colorado found that among a group of participants taking CBD for PTSD, 91% experienced a decrease in PTSD symptom severity. CBD was well-tolerated and no one in the study had to stop taking it for any negative side effects. The researchers believe that CBD can be an add-on treatment with other psychiatric medications and therapy to better improve and manage PTSD symptoms.
Final Thoughts on CBD and PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, has been around for a long time. It surely predates World Wars I and II and has affected millions of people both in the United States and around the world. While there are traditional ways of treating those diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the research findings on CBD and the endocannabinoid system are producing some hopeful and encouraging results. More research is needed to better understand how CBD can improve the lives of those dealing with this difficult and sometimes lifelong disorder.