Most Tourette patients report benefit from medical cannabis in real-world use | Research

The takeaway

In a real-world survey of 42 Tourette syndrome patients using medical cannabis, most reported benefits including tic reduction, better sleep, and improved mood, though some experienced side effects and 10 stopped treatment.

People with Tourette syndrome exploring treatment options, neurologists, and movement disorder specialists.

38 of 42 patients reported benefit

What the researchers found

The overall global impression of efficacy score was 3.85 out of 5. Thirty-eight of 42 patients reported some benefit, most commonly tic reduction, better sleep, and improved mood. Ten patients with more than one year of use chose to stop treatment for various reasons, including one case of psychosis.

Why it matters

Controlled trials of cannabis for Tourette syndrome are few and small. Real-world data from a clinical setting helps fill the evidence gap, even if it cannot establish efficacy the way a trial can.

The numbers in context

42 patients surveyed (33 males). Mean age 34.5. Global efficacy score: 3.85/5. 38 patients reported benefit. 10 patients (with 1+ year use) stopped treatment. 1 patient developed psychosis.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional phone interview survey of 42 Tourette syndrome patients (33 males, mean age 34.5) treated with medical cannabis at a single center. Efficacy rated on a 1-5 Likert scale.

What this study cannot tell us

Single-center survey with no control group or blinding. Subjective self-report measures only. Selection bias likely (patients who found benefit may be more willing to participate). No standardized tic severity measurements.

How to read the evidence

Uncontrolled observational survey with subjective outcomes and likely selection bias.

When this study was published

2019 study.

The bigger picture

Tourette syndrome has limited effective treatments, and many patients are dissatisfied with existing options. Cannabis represents an alternative that many patients find helpful, but the one psychosis case underscores the need for monitoring.

Questions still open

Which cannabinoid profiles are most effective for tics? What predicts which patients will develop adverse effects like psychosis?

Common questions

Does medical cannabis help with Tourette syndrome?

In this survey, 38 of 42 patients reported some benefit, rating overall efficacy 3.85 out of 5. Benefits included tic reduction, better sleep, and improved mood.

Are there risks of cannabis for Tourette syndrome?

One patient developed psychosis, and 10 patients with over a year of use chose to stop treatment for various reasons including side effects.

Read the original research

Single center experience with medical cannabis in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Parkinsonism & related disorders, 61, 211-213

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Thaler, Avner; Arad, Shira; Schleider, Lihi Bar-Lev; Knaani, Judith; Taichman, Tali; Giladi, Nir; Gurevich, Tanya. (2019). Single center experience with medical cannabis in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.. Parkinsonism & related disorders, 61, 211-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.10.004