Systematic Review Finds Very Limited Evidence for Cannabinoids in Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Disorders
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
4,466 articles screened; 18 included; 8 conditions addressed; only 1 RCT identified; 11 of 18 studies were case reports.
How They Did This
Systematic review searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane for studies published after 1980 on cannabinoid-based products in individuals aged 18 or younger.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Systematic review can only assess what has been studied. Did not include epilepsy, which has more robust cannabinoid evidence.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 1 RCT exists across all pediatric neuropsychiatric cannabinoid research
- Evidence Grade:
- Well-conducted systematic review that demonstrates the absence of quality evidence.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication
- Original Title:
- Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review.
- Published In:
- European child & adolescent psychiatry, 33(2), 505-526 (2024)
- Authors:
- Rice, Lauren J, Cannon, Lisa, Dadlani, Navin, Cheung, Melissa Mei Yin, Einfeld, Stewart L, Efron, Daryl, Dossetor, David R, Elliott, Elizabeth J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05654
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there evidence for cannabinoids in children with autism or ADHD?
Very little. This review found only 5 studies on autism (none were RCTs) and none on ADHD. Only 1 RCT has been conducted across all pediatric neuropsychiatric conditions combined.
Should parents give cannabinoids to children with neuropsychiatric conditions?
The evidence is extremely limited. Of 4,466 studies screened, only 18 met basic quality criteria, nearly all case reports. Large rigorous trials are needed.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05654APA
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
MLA
Rice, Lauren J, et al. "Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review.." European child & adolescent psychiatry, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02169-w
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Efficacy of cannabinoids in neurodevelopmental and neuropsyc..." RTHC-05654. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rice-2024-efficacy-of-cannabinoids-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.