Vortioxetine improves illness severity for cannabis users with anxiety and depressive symptoms in a 6-month randomized controlled study

Introduction: Cannabis use and misuse have mental health implications, particularly affecting mood and anxiety symptoms. Vortioxetine, a potent serotonin partial agonist/antagonist reuptake inhibitor antidepressant, has well-established effects in treating depressive and anxiety disorders and may serve as a potential treatment for individuals with cannabis use disorder and comorbid mood symptoms. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of vortioxetine for cannabis users with anxiety and depressive symptoms alongside their cannabis dependence.

Methods: This 6-month prospective, randomized controlled interventional pilot study investigated if vortioxetine could improve cannabis dependence, comorbid anxiety and/or depressive symptoms, and cognitive and functional outcomes in individuals using cannabis. Participants were randomized to receive either vortioxetine (N = 11) or standard treatment (N = 19).

Results: Participants taking vortioxetine (mean dose 10 mg/day) showed significant improvement on clinician-observed overall mood states over time (p < .05) but not on their self-reported anxiety or depressive symptoms. Cannabis users receiving standard treatment did not exhibit similar improvement. No significant differences were found on cannabis dependence, cognition and functional outcomes between the two groups otherwise.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine may benefit cannabis users with depressive and anxiety symptoms in ameliorating their overall mood state.