Self-Medicating With Marijuana for PTSD: Behaviors and Attitudes

Abstract

Marijuana has the potential to be a valuable tool in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the absence of large-scale efficacy studies, an early survey of self-medication trends can provide a starting point for future clinical research design. This study surveyed individuals who reported symptoms consistent with PTSD (with or without a diagnosis) who self-medicate with marijuana. Survey consisted of a PTSD measure, marijuana usage questions including frequency and patterns of use, a survey-specific marijuana attitudes survey along with measures of sleep quality and perceived overall improvement attributed to marijuana. This study provides analysis of self-medication patterns that may be of practical use to researchers and clinicians while there remains a lack of clinically based recommendations.