Original Research J Clin Psychiatry February 2026

The Effects of Extended Cannabis Abstinence in Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Cannabis Use Disorder

Full Article Read the complete peer-reviewed article in J Clin Psychiatry. Clinical Summary Many patients with PTSD use cannabis to manage distress, sleep problems, and hyperarousal, yet clinicians have limited prospective data on whether stopping cannabis helps or worsens symptoms in those with comorbid cannabis use disorder. This study addresses that real-world question by tracking PTSD symptoms over 12 weeks of biochemically verified abstinence versus nonabstinence. FAQ What did this study find about stopping cannabis in people who have both PTSD and cannabis use disorder? 9 questions
Key Takeaways Only 11 of 21 completers (52.4%) achieved 12 weeks of biochemically verified abstinence, highlighting that sustained cessation was feasible for about half of this comorbid PTSD/CUD sample under weekly monitoring, brief therapy, and contingency management. 6 takeaways Clinical Guide How should clinicians discuss and support a 12-week cannabis abstinence attempt in patients with comorbid PTSD and cannabis use disorder? 7 steps Clinical Guide How can clinicians classify sustained cannabis abstinence over 12 weeks in patients with PTSD and cannabis use disorder using self-report and urine testing? 6 steps
Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. (PPP) makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry or other PPP materials, and disclaims liability for any use or non-use of that information. Clinicians should not rely solely on these materials and should exercise their own professional judgment when making patient care decisions on an individualized basis.

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