Medical Marijuana Improves Chronic Depression Symptoms, New Clinical Study By German Psychiatric Hospital Shows

Approximately 21 million adults, or 8.3%, in the U.S. experienced at least one major depressive episode in 2021, with the highest prevalence being among people between 18 and 25, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health. 

A new clinical study offers hope for many people dealing with this serious mental health condition and the treatment comes from nature. According to research conducted by Germany-based psychiatric hospital, LVR University Hospital Essen, in collaboration with Europe's telehealth platform for marijuana, Algea Care, cannabis may sustainably improve chronic depression. 

Per the study published in the peer-reviewed journal Pharmacopsychiatry of the Association for Neuropsychopharmacology and Pharmacopsychiatry (AGNP), patients’ symptoms significantly improved, with the reported severity rate of their depression reduced notably with no severe side effects and a low dropout rate.  

"These results are extremely promising and encouraging, as they expand the evidence for the continued use of medical cannabis in the treatment of psychiatric illnesses in Germany," stated Dr. Julian Wichmann, founder and CEO of Algea Care and co-founder of Bloomwell Group, Algea Care's parent company. "In addition, the study lays the foundation for future research projects on the effects of cannabis therapy in the treatment of mental health conditions and illnesses."

Study Highlights 

• 59 patients with chronic depression, who had already been unsuccessfully treated with traditional prescription medications took part in the study. 
• The patients were provided with medical marijuana flower over 18 weeks beginning in 2021. 
• The participants had no serious side effects, a low dropout rate, and a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the medically documented severity of their depression during the treatment.
• As part of their medical care, the patients rated the severity of their depression on a scale from 0 to 10. Initially, the average value was 6.9 points, and after six weeks of medical cannabis use, the average rate lowered to 5.1 points. After twelve weeks, the average value fell to 4.1 and dropped to 3.8 after 18 weeks. 
• In 14 patients (23.7 percent), the severity of the depression reported was halved after just six weeks.
• A third of patients (35.6%) reported side effects classified as mild. 
• No serious side effects, such as psychosis, were reported, and the research team of doctors, psychiatrists, and scientists confirmed the safety of medical treatment with cannabis. 

"Patients are the real winners here; between these impactful findings on the potential benefits of medical cannabis and the German government's plans to enact more progressive policies, medical cannabis has the potential to become one of the most reliable and safest options for the treatment of chronic conditions," said Niklas Kouparanis, co-founder of Bloomwell Group. "With decriminalization and reclassification, cannabis patient numbers in January will likely increase into the millions."

The study authors noted that these pilot results should be tested by prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials preferably with a larger study population to derive valid treatment recommendations. 

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Photo: Courtesy of Kristina Tripkovic via Unsplash