Of 4,466 studies screened, only 18 met inclusion criteria for cannabinoid use in youth neuropsychiatric/neurodevelopmental disorders, with just one RCT, highlighting a massive gap between public interest and clinical evidence.
Pediatric psychiatrists, developmental pediatricians, parents seeking cannabinoid information
Only 1 RCT exists across all pediatric neuropsychiatric cannabinoid research
What the researchers found
Across 8 conditions (anxiety, ASD, FASD, fragile X, intellectual disability, mood disorders, PTSD, Tourette syndrome), only 18 studies qualified: 1 RCT, 1 open-label trial, 3 uncontrolled before-and-after studies, 2 case series, and 11 case reports. Risk of bias was high across nearly all studies.
Why it matters
Families of children with conditions like autism and Tourette syndrome are increasingly turning to cannabinoid products despite the near-absence of rigorous evidence.
The numbers in context
4,466 articles screened; 18 included; 8 conditions addressed; only 1 RCT identified; 11 of 18 studies were case reports.
How the study worked
Systematic review searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane for studies published after 1980 on cannabinoid-based products in individuals aged 18 or younger.
What this study cannot tell us
Systematic review can only assess what has been studied. Did not include epilepsy, which has more robust cannabinoid evidence.
How to read the evidence
Well-conducted systematic review that demonstrates the absence of quality evidence.
When this study was published
2024 publication
The bigger picture
The gap between community enthusiasm for cannabinoid therapies in children and the available evidence is striking. One RCT across all pediatric neuropsychiatric conditions means clinicians are essentially flying blind.
Questions still open
- Why has so little rigorous research been conducted on cannabinoids in pediatric neuropsychiatric conditions?
- Which condition should be prioritized for the first adequately powered RCTs?
Common questions
Is there evidence for cannabinoids in children with autism or ADHD?
Should parents give cannabinoids to children with neuropsychiatric conditions?
Read the original research
Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review.
European child & adolescent psychiatry, 33(2), 505-526
Citation
Rice, Lauren J; Cannon, Lisa; Dadlani, Navin; Cheung, Melissa Mei Yin; Einfeld, Stewart L; Efron, Daryl; Dossetor, David R; Elliott, Elizabeth J. (2024). Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review.. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 33(2), 505-526. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02169-w
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