Study | 1 October 2026
THC and emotion regulation in post-traumatic stress disorder
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled brain imaging study looked at how single oral doses of THC affect emotion regulation in adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Thirty-seven adults with PTSD received a placebo, 5 mg or 10 mg of dronabinol (synthetic THC) before a functional MRI scan during a cognitive reappraisal task, a validated measure of emotion regulation.
Both doses were associated with reduced activity in prefrontal and parietal brain regions involved in top-down control, with a stronger effect at 10 mg. Participants' own ratings of negative emotion did not differ between doses.
The authors suggest these findings help explain how cannabinoids act on emotion regulation circuits in PTSD, and can inform future clinical research.
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