Cannabis Use, Chronic Low Back Pain, Chronic Pain
Conditions
Keywords
Cannabis, Pain, Cytokines, Inflammation, Cognition
Brief summary
This study tests the effects of cannabinoid levels in blood on pain relief, inflammation, and cognitive dysfunction in chronic pain patients who choose to use edible cannabis. Over a two-week period, participants use an edible product of their choice. Blood levels of 9-delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) will be measured before, during, and after the two-week exposure period to determine whether there are associations with pain, inflammation, sleep, physical activity, anxiety/depression, and cognitive dysfunction. After the two-week self-administration period, participants will be followed for six months to collect self-report data on cannabis use, pain levels, sleep quality, and mental health symptoms.
Detailed description
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that approximately 76 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, affecting the lives of more Americans than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. Perhaps because of its ubiquity and the challenge to its treatment, relief from chronic pain is by far the most commonly cited condition by patients for use of marijuana, with 87%-94% of medical marijuana users reporting using for relief of a pain condition. Although the mechanisms are still unclear, marijuana and its constituent cannabinoids, including 9-delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are thought to be involved in reducing pain and associated inflammation. However, THC is also associated with harm in the form of cognitive dysfunction. Synergistic interactions of multiple cannabinoids are believed to produce different effects on both pain relief and cognitive function as compared to THC alone. For example, cannabidiol (CBD) is another primary cannabinoid that may work synergistically with THC in a multi-target analgesic approach. This study examines the effects of cannabinoids in edible form on pain relief, inflammation, and cognitive dysfunction in chronic pain patients who choose to use marijuana in the context of a short-term (2 weeks), patient-oriented, observational design and a mobile pharmacology and phlebotomy lab.
Interventions
Self-Directed Use (ad-libitum)
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Intent to initiate use of marijuana to treat chronic pain * At least one episode of lifetime marijuana use, but infrequent marijuana use for prior six months * Self-reported non-specific chronic low back pain for at least three months * Health eligibility approved by study physician * At least mild to moderate pain intensity OR pain interferes with important life functions
Exclusion criteria
* Other drug use (cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.) in the past 3 days and/or actively seeking or in treatment for any substance use disorder * Use of marijuana to treat pain at any time in lives * Current use of psychotropic medications (other than SSRIs and ADHD meds), or use of antivirals, steroids, or regular use of maximal doses of NSAIDS * A daily tobacco user * Are currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant * Acute illness (other than chronic pain) or any immune-related disease (e.g., HIV)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration) using the total RMDQ score (0-24). | The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire assesses self-rated physical disability caused by low back pain. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating more pain interference. |
| Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration). | Subjective report of cognitive function using the Perceived Cognitive Impairments subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog). Possible scores range from 0-80 where higher scores are associated with higher levels of perceived impairment. |
| Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration). | Co-outcomes testing cognitive impairment in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT) and attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \>70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function. |
| Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use) and Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration). | Tests levels of recent inflammation (panel of inflammatory markers) before and after cannabis use. Higher numbers indicate higher levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results are in pg/mL and are separated by the three cytokines: IL-1b, IL-6, and IL-10. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Depression and Stress | Change over 2 weeks | The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, the Depression and Stress subscales were used. Depression subscale score range 0-21 Normal (0 to 4), Mild (5 to 6), Moderate, (7 to 10), Severe (11 to 13), Extremely Severe (14 and above) Stress subscale score range 0-33 Normal (0 to 14), Mild (15 to 18), Moderate, (19 to 25), Severe (26 to 33) |
| Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | 2 Weeks | Co-outcomes testing cognitive impairment after acute use of cannabis in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT) and and attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \<70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function. |
| Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC). | Change over 2 week primary exposure period. | Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC) measures self-reported change on a 1-7 scale (i.e. from 1 (very much worse) to 7 (very much improved) in pain. Changes in this measure will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. Scale possible score range 1-7, with higher scores indicating the largest amount of possible change. Importantly, it is a subjective self-assessment of change and is only measured at the 2 week timepoint. |
| Motor Function | Change over 2 weeks | Motor control assessed via dynamic sway and proprioception. Motor outcomes were aggregated to reflect a Z-score of overall motor function. Scores reported below are sum of Motor Battery Balance z-scores (Eyes Open, Eyes Closed, and Head Back). Higher scores correspond to worse balance- there is not a maximum score. |
| Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | Change over 2 weeks | Test effects of cannabinoids on pain using the NIH Pain intensity scale for current pain (on a scale from 0-10 with 10 being the worst). |
| Health & Wellbeing | Change over 2 weeks | Self-report measure across primary domains of diet, assessment of sleep quality, and health-related well-being. Each domain was assessed with the following single items: Diet: In general, how healthy is your overall diet? Would you say (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor) Sleep Quality: During the past 2 weeks, how would you rate your sleep quality overall? (response options 0- very good; 1- fairly good; 2- fairly bad; 3- very bad) Health Related Wellbeing: In general, how would you describe your health? (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor) |
| Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | Change over 4 weeks | The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) is a self-report assessment of sleep quality.9 self-reported items belongs to one of seven subcategories: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. Scores for each question range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more acute sleep disturbances (Scores range from 0 to 21 overall, with scores greater than 5 suggesting significant sleep difficulties). |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | 2 weeks (daily) | Brief self-report from participants on pain and sleep in the past 24 hours. These are 1-item novel questions in a daily, text based survey. Pain and sleep are on a scale of 1-10, with higher numbers being more pain or better sleep. Score is an average rating over 14 days. |
| Physical Activity/Exercise | 2 weeks | Physical activity via subjective self-report data using the Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical item with 6 item responses (L-CAT; 1-6). Scores are reported as a mean between 1 and 6, larger numbers correspond to higher levels of activity. |
| Objective Physical Activity/Exercise | 2 weeks | Physical activity via objective daily data on wearable watch as measured by average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). |
| Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | 6 months (monthly) | Self-report from participants on pain levels (0-10 with 10 being worst pain), sleep quality (0-10 with 10 being best sleep), perceived cognitive ability (0 - 27 with 27 being the best), perceived cognitive impairments (0-72 with 72 being the worst), and general health (0-4 with 4 being best). Scores are reported as average scores reported once a month over six months. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Pre-assignment details
Note: 268 participants were consented for the study. Among those, 253 submitted photos of their experimental product and were thus assigned to product groups. It is not possible to group the 15 participants lost to attrition at that point in the study flow.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| THC Group Participants used THC dominant products | 36 |
| CBD Group Participants used CBD dominant products | 96 |
| THC+CBD Group Participants used products with roughly equivalent proportions of THC and CBD | 117 |
| Total | 249 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | THC Group | CBD Group | THC+CBD Group | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 36.92 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.02 | 50.18 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.49 | 46.06 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.38 | 46.3 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.1 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino | 3 Participants | 3 Participants | 11 Participants | 17 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino | 33 Participants | 92 Participants | 105 Participants | 230 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Pain Intensity | 3.2 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.93 | 3.37 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.92 | 3.45 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.97 | 3.4 units on a scale STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.94 |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 36 participants | 96 participants | 117 participants | 249 participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Female | 15 Participants | 58 Participants | 68 Participants | 141 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Male | 20 Participants | 37 Participants | 47 Participants | 104 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Transgender/non-binary | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 2 Participants | 4 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 36 | 0 / 95 | 0 / 117 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 36 | 0 / 95 | 0 / 117 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 36 | 0 / 95 | 0 / 117 |
Outcome results
Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT)
Co-outcomes testing cognitive impairment in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT) and attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \>70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function.
Time frame: Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration).
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline Flanker Scores | 101.806 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.528 |
| THC Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week Flanker Scores | 102.667 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.963 |
| THC Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline ISLT Scores | 99.886 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 14.652 |
| THC Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week ISLT Scores | 99.756 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 16.278 |
| CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week ISLT Scores | 98.325 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 13.744 |
| CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline Flanker Scores | 98.606 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.355 |
| CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline ISLT Scores | 98.499 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 12.514 |
| CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week Flanker Scores | 100.207 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.657 |
| THC+CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week ISLT Scores | 100.321 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 16.206 |
| THC+CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | 2 Week Flanker Scores | 101.063 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 8.326 |
| THC+CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline ISLT Scores | 102.37 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 16.359 |
| THC+CBD Group | Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) & International Shopping List Task (ISLT) | Baseline Flanker Scores | 99.974 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 8.074 |
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog)
Subjective report of cognitive function using the Perceived Cognitive Impairments subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog). Possible scores range from 0-80 where higher scores are associated with higher levels of perceived impairment.
Time frame: Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration).
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | Baseline Perceived Impairments Rating | 15.528 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 11.388 |
| THC Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | 2 Week Perceived Impairments Rating | 12.52 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 9.913 |
| CBD Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | Baseline Perceived Impairments Rating | 14.14 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 11.834 |
| CBD Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | 2 Week Perceived Impairments Rating | 14.037 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 12.77 |
| THC+CBD Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | Baseline Perceived Impairments Rating | 13.978 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 11.226 |
| THC+CBD Group | Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) | 2 Week Perceived Impairments Rating | 12.743 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 10.155 |
Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines
Tests levels of recent inflammation (panel of inflammatory markers) before and after cannabis use. Higher numbers indicate higher levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results are in pg/mL and are separated by the three cytokines: IL-1b, IL-6, and IL-10.
Time frame: Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use) and Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration).
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-1b blood levels | 6.685 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 9.261 |
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-1b Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 6.816 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 9.138 |
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-6 Blood Levels | 3.071 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 2.769 |
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-6 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 3.101 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 3.091 |
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-10 Blood Levels | 6.183 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 8.65 |
| THC Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-10 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 6.184 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 8.546 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-10 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 7.007 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 12.337 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-1b blood levels | 8.422 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 13.766 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-6 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 3.639 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 4.542 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-10 Blood Levels | 7.362 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 12.256 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-1b Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 8.031 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 13.274 |
| CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-6 Blood Levels | 3.994 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 4.438 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-1b Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 8.014 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 11.831 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-6 Blood Levels | 3.538 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 3.538 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-10 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 8.563 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 13.842 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | IL-6 Blood Levels at 2 Weeks | 3.168 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 2.979 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-1b blood levels | 7.829 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 11.214 |
| THC+CBD Group | Inflammation: Circulating Levels of Cytokines | Baseline IL-10 Blood Levels | 8.565 pg/mL | Standard Deviation 13.513 |
Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)
The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire assesses self-rated physical disability caused by low back pain. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating more pain interference.
Time frame: Change over two time points over 2 weeks: Baseline (before 2 weeks of edible use), Pre-Administration (after 2 weeks of use and before acute administration) using the total RMDQ score (0-24).
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Baseline Pain Interference | 8.028 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.582 |
| THC Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Pain Interference at 2 Weeks | 6.194 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 4.407 |
| CBD Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Baseline Pain Interference | 9.635 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 4.98 |
| CBD Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Pain Interference at 2 Weeks | 8.031 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 5.428 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Baseline Pain Interference | 9.034 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 4.495 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pain Interference: Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) | Pain Interference at 2 Weeks | 7.419 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 4.796 |
Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT).
Co-outcomes testing cognitive impairment after acute use of cannabis in the domains of immediate and delayed recall (ISLT) and and attention and inhibitory control (FICA). Cognitive outcomes are measured in standard scores (e.g. Range of \<70 to \>140 (Mean of 100 and SD of 15) with higher scores indicating better performance) and can be averaged to reflect a Standard score of overall cognitive function.
Time frame: 2 Weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | Baseline Sum Cognitive Score | 100.619 standard score | Standard Deviation 8.115 |
| THC Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | 2 Week Sum Cognitive Score | 101.675 standard score | Standard Deviation 9.226 |
| CBD Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | Baseline Sum Cognitive Score | 98.281 standard score | Standard Deviation 7.694 |
| CBD Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | 2 Week Sum Cognitive Score | 99.615 standard score | Standard Deviation 8.166 |
| THC+CBD Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | Baseline Sum Cognitive Score | 100.904 standard score | Standard Deviation 10.296 |
| THC+CBD Group | Acute Cognitive Impairment: Flanker Inhibitory Control Attention Task (FICA) and International Shopping List Task (ISLT). | 2 Week Sum Cognitive Score | 100.91 standard score | Standard Deviation 9.944 |
Depression and Stress
The DASS21 is a 21-item scale that measures self-reported change in anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Participants are asked to use 4-point severity/frequency scales (higher values indicate greater severity) to rate the extent to which they have experienced each state. For this aim, the Depression and Stress subscales were used. Depression subscale score range 0-21 Normal (0 to 4), Mild (5 to 6), Moderate, (7 to 10), Severe (11 to 13), Extremely Severe (14 and above) Stress subscale score range 0-33 Normal (0 to 14), Mild (15 to 18), Moderate, (19 to 25), Severe (26 to 33)
Time frame: Change over 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Depression score | 7.111 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.369 |
| THC Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Stress Score | 8.545 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.023 |
| THC Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Stress Score | 9.667 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.716 |
| THC Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Depression Score | 5.939 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.132 |
| CBD Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Depression Score | 5.532 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.508 |
| CBD Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Stress Score | 9.417 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 8.135 |
| CBD Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Stress Score | 8.596 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 8.042 |
| CBD Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Depression score | 6.188 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.41 |
| THC+CBD Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Stress Score | 8.198 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.959 |
| THC+CBD Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Depression score | 6.872 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 8.197 |
| THC+CBD Group | Depression and Stress | Baseline Stress Score | 10.068 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.991 |
| THC+CBD Group | Depression and Stress | 2 Week Depression Score | 5.856 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.364 |
Health & Wellbeing
Self-report measure across primary domains of diet, assessment of sleep quality, and health-related well-being. Each domain was assessed with the following single items: Diet: In general, how healthy is your overall diet? Would you say (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor) Sleep Quality: During the past 2 weeks, how would you rate your sleep quality overall? (response options 0- very good; 1- fairly good; 2- fairly bad; 3- very bad) Health Related Wellbeing: In general, how would you describe your health? (response options 0- excellent; 1- very good; 2- good; 3- fair; 4- poor)
Time frame: Change over 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.44 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.95 |
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Sleep Quality | 1.31 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.79 |
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Self Reported Diet | 1.58 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.94 |
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Self Reported Diet | 1.54 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.9 |
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Sleep Quality | 1.00 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.66 |
| THC Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.58 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.84 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Sleep Quality | 1.19 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.63 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.52 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.88 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Self Reported Diet | 1.64 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.82 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.55 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.83 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Self Reported Diet | 1.56 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.96 |
| CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Sleep Quality | 1.27 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.72 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.49 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.76 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Sleep Quality | 1.06 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.61 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Self Reported Diet | 1.44 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.92 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | 2 Week Self Reported Diet | 1.50 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.96 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Sleep Quality | 1.22 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.67 |
| THC+CBD Group | Health & Wellbeing | Baseline Health-Related Wellbeing | 1.39 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.79 |
Motor Function
Motor control assessed via dynamic sway and proprioception. Motor outcomes were aggregated to reflect a Z-score of overall motor function. Scores reported below are sum of Motor Battery Balance z-scores (Eyes Open, Eyes Closed, and Head Back). Higher scores correspond to worse balance- there is not a maximum score.
Time frame: Change over 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Motor Function | Baseline z-score | 0.019 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.006 |
| THC Group | Motor Function | 2 Week z-score | 0.018 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.006 |
| CBD Group | Motor Function | Baseline z-score | 0.023 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.013 |
| CBD Group | Motor Function | 2 Week z-score | 0.023 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.011 |
| THC+CBD Group | Motor Function | Baseline z-score | 0.021 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.007 |
| THC+CBD Group | Motor Function | 2 Week z-score | 0.02 z-score | Standard Deviation 0.006 |
Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale.
Test effects of cannabinoids on pain using the NIH Pain intensity scale for current pain (on a scale from 0-10 with 10 being the worst).
Time frame: Change over 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | Baseline Pain Intensity Rating | 2.2 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.933 |
| THC Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | 2-Week Pain Intensity Rating | 3.091 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.792 |
| CBD Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | Baseline Pain Intensity Rating | 2.366 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.918 |
| CBD Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | 2-Week Pain Intensity Rating | 3.204 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.948 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | Baseline Pain Intensity Rating | 2.448 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.972 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pain Intensity: Current Pain Using NIH Pain Intensity Scale. | 2-Week Pain Intensity Rating | 3.288 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.064 |
Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC).
Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC) measures self-reported change on a 1-7 scale (i.e. from 1 (very much worse) to 7 (very much improved) in pain. Changes in this measure will be tested in relation to THC and CBD blood levels. Scale possible score range 1-7, with higher scores indicating the largest amount of possible change. Importantly, it is a subjective self-assessment of change and is only measured at the 2 week timepoint.
Time frame: Change over 2 week primary exposure period.
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC). | 4.97 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.847 |
| CBD Group | Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC). | 4.745 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.867 |
| THC+CBD Group | Patient Global Impression of Change: Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC). | 4.856 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.862 |
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI)
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) is a self-report assessment of sleep quality.9 self-reported items belongs to one of seven subcategories: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. Scores for each question range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating more acute sleep disturbances (Scores range from 0 to 21 overall, with scores greater than 5 suggesting significant sleep difficulties).
Time frame: Change over 4 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | Baseline PSQI Scores | 8.22 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.54 |
| THC Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | 4 Week PSQI Scores | 5.85 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.09 |
| CBD Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | Baseline PSQI Scores | 8.39 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.67 |
| CBD Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | 4 Week PSQI Scores | 7.07 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.74 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | Baseline PSQI Scores | 7.46 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.87 |
| THC+CBD Group | Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Assessment (PSQI) | 4 Week PSQI Scores | 6.14 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.42 |
Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages
Brief self-report from participants on pain and sleep in the past 24 hours. These are 1-item novel questions in a daily, text based survey. Pain and sleep are on a scale of 1-10, with higher numbers being more pain or better sleep. Score is an average rating over 14 days.
Time frame: 2 weeks (daily)
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Pain Rating | 2.989 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.848 |
| THC Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Sleep Rating | 5.426 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.823 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Sleep Rating | 4.916 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.657 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Pain Rating | 3.247 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.033 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Pain Rating | 3.322 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.083 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Daily Follow-up Messages | Sleep Rating | 5.193 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.801 |
Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys
Self-report from participants on pain levels (0-10 with 10 being worst pain), sleep quality (0-10 with 10 being best sleep), perceived cognitive ability (0 - 27 with 27 being the best), perceived cognitive impairments (0-72 with 72 being the worst), and general health (0-4 with 4 being best). Scores are reported as average scores reported once a month over six months.
Time frame: 6 months (monthly)
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Pain Rating | 3.067 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.15 |
| THC Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Impairments | 5.756 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 10.222 |
| THC Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Ability | 18.78 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.152 |
| THC Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly General Health Rating | 1.367 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.893 |
| THC Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Sleep Quality | 5.763 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.79 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Impairments | 4.88 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 7.918 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Pain Rating | 2.844 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.974 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Sleep Quality | 5.837 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.708 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Ability | 19.408 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.134 |
| CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly General Health Rating | 1.606 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.745 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Sleep Quality | 5.595 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.626 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Impairments | 7.718 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 14.185 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Pain Rating | 3.216 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 3.153 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly General Health Rating | 1.588 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.777 |
| THC+CBD Group | Exploratory: Monthly Follow-up Surveys | Monthly Perceived Cognitive Ability | 18.473 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 6.612 |
Objective Physical Activity/Exercise
Physical activity via objective daily data on wearable watch as measured by average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
Time frame: 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Objective Physical Activity/Exercise | 1610.258 minutes | Standard Deviation 773.122 |
| CBD Group | Objective Physical Activity/Exercise | 1830.455 minutes | Standard Deviation 1103.797 |
| THC+CBD Group | Objective Physical Activity/Exercise | 1723.745 minutes | Standard Deviation 1081.798 |
Physical Activity/Exercise
Physical activity via subjective self-report data using the Stanford Leisure-Time Activity Categorical item with 6 item responses (L-CAT; 1-6). Scores are reported as a mean between 1 and 6, larger numbers correspond to higher levels of activity.
Time frame: 2 weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THC Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | Baseline Physical Activity | 3.806 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.39 |
| THC Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | 2 Week Physical Activity | 3.788 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.293 |
| CBD Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | Baseline Physical Activity | 3.417 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.202 |
| CBD Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | 2 Week Physical Activity | 3.277 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.177 |
| THC+CBD Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | Baseline Physical Activity | 3.573 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.328 |
| THC+CBD Group | Physical Activity/Exercise | 2 Week Physical Activity | 3.279 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.097 |