Changes in patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores in adults with medical authorization for cannabis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Legal access to medical cannabis is increasing world-wide. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence surrounding its efficacy on mental health outcomes, particularly, on depression. This study assesses the effect of medical cannabis on Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores in adult patients between 2014 and 2019 in Ontario and Alberta, Canada.

Methods

An observational cohort study of medically authorized cannabis patients in Ontario and Alberta. Overall change in PHQ-9 scores from baseline to follow-up were evaluated (mean change) over a time period of up to 3.2?years.

Results

37,338 patients from the cohort had an initial PHQ-9 score recorded with 5103 (13.7%) patients having follow-up PHQ-9 scores. The average age was 54?yrs. (SD 15.7), 46% male, 50% noted depression at baseline. The average PHQ-9 score at baseline was 10.5 (SD 6.9), following a median follow-up time of 196?days (IQR: 77-451) the average final PHQ-9 score was 10.3 (SD 6.8) with a mean change of -?0.20 (95% CI: -?0.26, -?0.14, p-value ConclusionsAlthough the majority showed no clinically important changes in PHQ-9 scores, a number of patients showed improvement or deteriorations in PHQ-9 scores. Future studies should focus on the parallel use of screening questionnaires to control for PHQ-9 sensitivity and to explore potential factors that may have attributed to the improvement in scores pre- and post- 3-6?month time period.

SUBMITTER: Round JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7310462 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature