Brief Report: Cannabidiol-Rich Cannabis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Behavioral Problems-A Retrospective Feasibility Study
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Adi Aran; Hanoch Cassuto; Asael Lubotzky; Nadia Wattad; Esther Hazan
- Source
- Journal of autism and developmental disorders. 49(3)
- Subject
- Male
Psychosis
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Autism Spectrum Disorder
medicine.medical_treatment
Medical Marijuana
Irritability
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Developmental and Educational Psychology
medicine
Cannabidiol
Humans
0501 psychology and cognitive sciences
Antipsychotic
Adverse effect
Psychiatry
Child
Cannabis
Retrospective Studies
Problem Behavior
biology
05 social sciences
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Treatment Outcome
Tolerability
Autism spectrum disorder
Child, Preschool
Autism
Feasibility Studies
Female
medicine.symptom
Psychology
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
050104 developmental & child psychology
- Language
- ISSN
- 1573-3432
Anecdotal evidence of successful cannabis treatment in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are accumulating but clinical studies are lacking. This retrospective study assessed tolerability and efficacy of cannabidiol-rich cannabis, in 60 children with ASD and severe behavioral problems (age = 11.8 ± 3.5, range 5.0–17.5; 77% low functioning; 83% boys). Efficacy was assessed using the Caregiver Global Impression of Change scale. Adverse events included sleep disturbances (14%) irritability (9%) and loss of appetite (9%). One girl who used higher tetrahydrocannabinol had a transient serious psychotic event which required treatment with an antipsychotic. Following the cannabis treatment, behavioral outbreaks were much improved or very much improved in 61% of patients. This preliminary study supports feasibility of CBD-based cannabis trials in children with ASD.