Medical Marijuana and the Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Survey of Michigan Psychiatrists’ Opinions

CONTEXT: Although recent studies have indicated a potential mechanism of action through which medical marijuana (MM) and its derivatives may treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, definitive evidence is still lacking. Few studies concerning physician attitudes regarding MM and/or marijuana-derived medications for PTSD are found in the psychiatric literature. METHODS: A non-probability convenience sample of psychiatric physicians in Michigan was surveyed during 2016. The 12-item survey questionnaire asked respondents a series of questions about their personal characteristics, prior experiences of treating PTSD and opinions concerning the use/potential use of MM for treatment of PTSD. RESULTS: A total of 83 psychiatrists (11.7% of total invited) responded to the survey. Several statistically significant correlations between respondent characteristics and other key measures (e.g., Age Category, Gender, Years of Psychiatric Practice, Psychiatric Practice Role (i.e., resident vs. attending), Number of Psychiatric Subspecialties, and Number of PTSD Patients Diagnosed and/or Treated to date) were found. A composite summary score was also formulated from questions related to opinion regarding the use of MM for PTSD and categorized into three comparison groups. The final stepwise multinomial logistic model demonstrated three statistically significant factors influencing what response category respondents fell into regarding MM use for PTSD: a) how often respondents had been exposed to recommendations concerning the use of MM for PTSD (p < 0.001), b) Age Category (p = 0.001) and how frequently respondents had recommended MM for treatment of PTSD (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this smaller sample indicate that the majority of psychiatrist respondents did not support MM for the treatment of PTSD. Judging from these results, Michigan psychiatrists may be extremely conservative regard the prospective use of MM for PTSD. Few sample respondents indicated that they had been exposed to professional literature detailing MM and derivatives as a treatment for PTSD. Most respondents also indicated that they were Unsure/There is Not Enough Research concerning the scientific evidence for the use of MM for PTSD. Based on these findings from a smaller sample, the use of MM and its derivatives for treatment of PTSD may not currently be supported by the majority of Michigan psychiatrists.