Millions of Americans use cannabis for medical purposes including but not limited to pain, nausea, mood changes and appetite stimulation. The use of cannabinoid in the palliative care setting is a relatively new trend. Given the fact that a patient receiving palliative care is not necessarily approaching death, the increasing need for palliative care as the American population ages, this literature review was compiled in order to examine the potential efficacy of cannabis in treating the mental health comorbidities of palliative care patients. We attempted to create the most comprehensive report on cannabinoid use in palliative psychiatry. It summarizes the most recently published science on cannabinoid use in palliative care patients and its impact on mood and anxiety symptoms. The mechanism of action of cannabinoids on their associated receptors was elucidated, as were the pharmacological roles that specific molecules in cannabinoids, like cannabidiolic acid and terpenes, play in cannabinoids’ overall efficacy. The legal impediments to widespread cannabis use were also explored. While the potential efficacy of cannabinoids has proven to be mixed, more research is necessary to ensure that a potentially vital resource in treating palliative care patients does not go underutilized.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.