Cannabinoid interventions for PTSD: Where to next?

Cannabinoids are a promising method for pharmacological treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite considerable research devoted to the effect of cannabinoid modulation on PTSD symptomology, there is not a currently agreed way by which the cannabinoid system should be targeted in humans. In this review, we present an overview of recent research identifying neurological pathways by which different cannabinoid-based treatments may exert their effects on PTSD symptomology. We evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each of these different approaches, including recent challenges presented to favourable options such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitors. This article makes the strengths and challenges of different potential cannabinoid treatments accessible to psychological researchers interested in cannabinoid therapeutics and aims to aid selection of appropriate tools for future clinical trials. • Cannabinoids are efficacious for PTSD in animal models of the disorder. • Cannabinoid agents work through multiple pathways, such as serotonin and BDNF, to modulate PTSD symptomology. • Strengths, weaknesses and current challenges of different cannabinoid agents are reviewed here and compared. • Clinical trials for PTSD should be constructed based on current directions in pharmacological development of cannabinoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]