Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is Effective in the Treatment of Tics in Tourette Syndrome: a 6-Week Randomized Trial
by
Muller-Vahl KR, Schneider U, Prevedel H,
Theloe K, Kolbe H, Daldrup T, Emrich HM.
Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
(Drs. Muller-Vahl, Schneider, and Emrich; and Mss. Prevedel and Theloe)
and the Department of Neurology, Medical School of Hannover,
Hannover, Germany (Dr. Kolbe);
and the Institute of Legal Medicine,
Heinrich Heine University,
Dusseldorf, Germany (Dr. Daldrup).
J Clin Psychiatry 2003 Apr;64(4):459-465

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preliminary studies suggested that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive ingredient of Cannabis sativa L., might be effective in the treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS). This study was performed to investigate for the first time under controlled conditions, over a longer-term treatment period, whether THC is effective and safe in reducing tics in TS. METHOD: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 24 patients with TS, according to DSM-III-R criteria, were treated over a 6-week period with up to 10 mg/day of THC. Tics were rated at 6 visits (visit 1, baseline; visits 2-4, during treatment period; visits 5-6, after withdrawal of medication) using the Tourette Syndrome Clinical Global Impressions scale (TS-CGI), the Shapiro Tourette-Syndrome Severity Scale (STSSS), the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the self-rated Tourette Syndrome Symptom List (TSSL), and a videotape-based rating scale. RESULTS: Seven patients dropped out of the study or had to be excluded, but only 1 due to side effects. Using the TS-CGI, STSSS, YGTSS, and video rating scale, we found a significant difference (p <.05) or a trend toward a significant difference (p <.10) between THC and placebo groups at visits 2, 3, and/or 4. Using the TSSL at 10 treatment days (between days 16 and 41) there was a significant difference (p <.05) between both groups. ANOVA as well demonstrated a significant difference (p =.037). No serious adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSION: Our results provide more evidence that THC is effective and safe in the treatment of tics. It, therefore, can be hypothesized that the central cannabinoid receptor system might play a role in TS pathology.

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