UK Medical Cannabis Registry: a cohort study of patients prescribed cannabis-based oils and dried flower for generalised anxiety disorder.

BACKGROUND: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition. The endocannabinoid system has become a focus for new therapies, increasing interest in cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). This study uses data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR) to investigate real-world outcomes and safety of different CBMP formulations in GAD patients.

METHODS: This study analyzed patient-reported outcomes from 302 GAD patients prescribed CBMPs (oil-based, dried flower, or a combination). Anxiety (GAD-7), sleep quality (SQS), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5 L) were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Adverse events were recorded.

RESULTS: All CBMP formulations were associated with improvements in anxiety, sleep, and quality of life over 12 months (  0.050). The majority of reported adverse events ( = 707) were mild ( = 343) or moderate ( = 285) in severity, with no life-threatening events observed.

CONCLUSION: This study provides real-world evidence supporting the potential of CBMPs for improving GAD symptoms. Patients prescribed both oil-based and dried flower formulations have similar outcomes over 12 months. Further research is needed to determine the optimal CBMP formulation and long-term effects.