Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34043900›Full record

SynthesisTrends in psychiatry and psychotherapy2022

Cannabis and cannabinoid use in autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review.

Estácio Amaro da Silva, Wandersonia Moreira Brito Medeiros, Nelson Torro, João Marçal Medeiros de Sousa, Igor Bronzeado Cahino Moura de Almeida, Filipe Barbosa da Costa, Katiúscia Moreira Pontes, Eliane Lima Guerra Nunes, Marine Diniz da Rosa, Katy Lísias Gondim Dias de Albuquerque

Open access · diamondAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Trends in psychiatry and psychotherapy, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
6.6field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 69 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
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  4. Pooled it
  5. Trial
  6. Observational
  7. Article
  8. Article
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  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2025
    Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Medicinal Cannabis for Paediatric Developmental, Behavioural and Mental Health Disorders.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Estácio Amaro da SilvaDepartamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Wandersonia Moreira Brito MedeirosDepartamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Nelson TorroDepartamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
João Marçal Medeiros de SousaUFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Igor Bronzeado Cahino Moura de AlmeidaUFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Filipe Barbosa da CostaUFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Katiúscia Moreira PontesUFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Eliane Lima Guerra NunesSociedade Brasileira de Estudo da Cannabis Sativa.
Marine Diniz da RosaDepartamento de Fonoaudiologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Katy Lísias Gondim Dias de AlbuquerqueDepartamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
Universidade Federal da Paraíba · BRSociedade Brasileira de Psicologia · BR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, associated with the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Cannabis has been used to alleviate symptoms associated with ASD.

methodWe carried out a systematic review of studies that investigated the clinical effects of cannabis and cannabinoid use on ASD, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA checklist). The search was carried out in four databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Scopus, and Web of Science. No limits were established for language during the selection process. Nine studies were selected and analyzed.

resultsSome studies showed that cannabis products reduced the number and/or intensity of different symptoms, including hyperactivity, attacks of self-mutilation and anger, sleep problems, anxiety, restlessness, psychomotor agitation, irritability, aggressiveness perseverance, and depression. Moreover, they found an improvement in cognition, sensory sensitivity, attention, social interaction, and language. The most common adverse effects were sleep disorders, restlessness, nervousness and change in appetite.

conclusionCannabis and cannabinoids may have promising effects in the treatment of symptoms related to ASD, and can be used as a therapeutic alternative in the relief of those symptoms. However, randomized, blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials are necessary to clarify findings on the effects of cannabis and its cannabinoids in individuals with ASD. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), code 164161.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderCannabinoidsCannabisAnxietyAnxiety DisordersHumansPsychomotor AgitationCannabinoidsautismcannabidiolcannabinoidCannabissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID34043900
PMCPMC9887656
OpenAlexW3122431889

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.