Tetrahydrocannabinol
Plant cannabis that will be smoked
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This study is a randomized, controlled clinical trial to examine the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids for treating veterans with PTSD and suicidal ideation.
Locally preserved from ClinicalTrials.govOpen ClinicalTrials.govlast source update 2026-08-07
What this record can show
This locally preserved record separates the registered protocol from source-reported registry results. Neither is a treatment recommendation.
Registry facts
In this clinical trial, we will recruit veterans with PTSD who report using cannabis or have interest in trying cannabis for symptom relief. Veterans will be randomized into one of four different groups: THC (∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (cannabidiol), THC+CBD, and Placebo, and undergo a 12-week treatment phase where they will be asked to smoke their assigned cannabis dose every day for 12 weeks. Participants will complete weekly questionnaires regarding their mood, behavior and drug consumption. Furthermore, there is a laboratory component that will assess cognition, fear conditioning, and other PTSD-related measures.
Linked local records
Local links use governed condition terms or exact source-reported intervention names. They are navigation candidates, not efficacy claims.
Interventions
Plant cannabis that will be smoked
THCPlant cannabidiol that will be smoked
CBDPlant will be smoked.
Eligibility
primary outcomes
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (at the initial screening visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
PTSD diagnosis will be assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) for DSM-5 Total Severity Score, a well-validated, semi-structured clinician interview that determines the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms and diagnosis consistent with the DSM-5 and allows for assessing changes in symptom severity over time.
Time frame: Administered at every study visit: both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase (all twelve weekly visits); and the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months
The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. The PCL-5 is used to monitor symptom change during and after treatment, screen individuals for PTSD, and make a provisional PTSD diagnosis. This assessment will also be used as a safety measure at all visits by assessing PTSD symptom severity.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (at the initial screening visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a clinician-administered interview assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors over time. A baseline form is used to assess lifetime suicidal ideation, intensity, and behavior, and can be compared to current suicidal ideation and intensity assessed over the clinical trial.
Time frame: Administered at every study visit: both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase (all twelve weekly visits); and the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months
The Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) is a brief (4-item), self-administered questionnaire that taps into four dimensions of suicidality (lifetime ideation/attempt, frequency of recent ideation, risk of suicide attempt and self-reported likelihood of future suicidal behavior). This assessment will also be used as a safety measure at all visits by assessing suicidality.
secondary outcomes
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (at the baseline visit); and at the first post-treatment visit (one week post-treatment).
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire, widely used measure of emotional state, which has excellent psychometric properties.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (at the initial screening visit); and at the first post-treatment visit (one week post-treatment).
The UCLA Three-Item Loneliness Scale (3-ILS) assesses social isolation and feelings of loneliness.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (at the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment, and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment).
The Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI) is a self-report questionnaire of dissociative symptomatology over the past month. The Dissociation Tension Scale (DSS) is a self-report measure of dissociative symptoms sensitive to weekly changes.
Time frame: Administered after cannabis administration; therefore, administered at the baseline visit and electronically during the 12-week treatment phase (at all twelve weekly visits).
The Subjective Cannabis Effects Rating Form (SCERF) will ask participants to complete a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) of "good drug effect," "bad drug effect," "strength of drug effect," liking," "sedated," and "desire to take again" and indicate whether they thought they received active drug or placebo. The Subjective Effects Scale (SES) VAS is a 33-item scale which includes the phrase "I feel…" followed by adjectives describing a mood (e.g., "anxious", "friendly," "down," etc.), a drug effect (e.g., "high," "stimulated", "a good drug effect") or a physical symptom (e.g., "hungry," "tired," "restless").
Time frame: Administered once at a pre-treatment visit, specifically at the initial screening visit.
Publications
No exact PMID-linked public article is currently readable locally.
Time frame: Administered at every study visit: both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase (all twelve weekly visits); and the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months
The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is a self-report depression checklist which assesses neurovegetative depressive symptoms. One item asks specifically about suicidal thoughts and will also be checked at every study visit as a safety measure. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form Y (STAI-Y) is a 40-item questionnaire with two scales assessing state and trait anxiety (somatic and cognitive symptoms).
Participants will be asked to complete a personal history form to assess age, gender, sex, gender identity, marital status, race/ethnicity, education, employment status, and annual income.
Time frame: Administered once at a pre-treatment visit, specifically at the baseline visit.
The Kansas Gulf War Illness Criteria (KGWIC) and the Burn Pit Exposure (BPE) are self-report questionnaires that contain items on toxicants commonly experienced as well as burn pit exposure during war.
Time frame: Administered once at a pre-treatment visit, specifically at the baseline visit.
Subjects who smoke cigarettes will also complete the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) survey to assess smoking history and habits.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
The Short Form 36 (SF-36) is a brief measure of overall self-reported health that is associated with other objective health measures. Scores will be examined to assess change in general health outcomes over time.
Time frame: Administered at both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); and at two post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-months post-treatment visits).
The Healthcare Utilization (HU) survey will also assess the number of times participants utilize emergency room, urgent care, specialist, and general practitioner services.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) asks participants to identify areas on their body causing pain and rate the severity.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-report questionnaire that will be used to assess daytime sleepiness, which is indicative of sleep problems.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
The Quality of Life (QOL) inventory assesses satisfaction in 17 life areas (work, health, recreation, goals, etc.) and will be used to assess the quality of life changes.
Time frame: Administered at every study visit: both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase (all twelve weekly visits); and the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months
The Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) will be used to record the time of cannabis use and route of administration as well as any alcohol and other drug use.
Time frame: Administered at a pre-treatment visit (the baseline visit); and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits).
Working Memory will be assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). The Wisconsin Card Sort Task (WCST) assesses abstraction and the ability to shift or maintain cognitive set. The Hypothetical Monetary Delay Discounting (HMDD) and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) measure decision-making. Lastly, the Word Color Stroop (WCS) task assesses selective attention capacity and skills.
Time frame: Administered at every study visit: both pre-treatment visits (the initial screening and baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase (all twelve weekly visits); and the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months
Physiological measures include blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and skin temperature checks at all study visits
Time frame: Biological samples may be collected at a pre-treatment (at the baseline visit); during the 12-week treatment phase; and at the four post-treatment visits (one week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment visits)
Biological measures include collection of urine, saliva, and blood. Saliva will be used to measure biomarkers like cortisol and test for endocannabinoid levels. Urine will be used to measure THC and CBD and their metabolites. Blood plasma will be used to measure plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids, cannabinoids, and PUFA metabolites.