Press Release: Clinical Study by Germany-based Psychiatric Hospital: Medical Cannabis Significantly Improves Symptoms of Chronic Depression 

During the course of this practical study based on real-world evidence and data provided by Algea Care, 59 patients with chronic depression, who had already been unsuccessfully treated for chronic depression with traditional prescription medications and had agreed to an anonymized evaluation of this alternative course of treatment, were provided with medical cannabis flower over an 18-week period beginning in 2021. They exhibited no serious side effects, a low dropout rate, and a statistically and clinically significant improvement in the medically documented severity of their depression during the treatment.

As part of their medical care, the patients rated the severity of their depression on a scale from 0 to 10. Initially, the average value was 6.9 points, and after six weeks of medical cannabis use, the average rate lowered to 5.1 points. After twelve weeks, the average value fell to 4.1 and dropped to 3.8 after 18 weeks. In 14 patients (23.7 percent), the severity of the depression reported was halved after just six weeks.

While a third of patients (35.6%) reported side effects, they were also classified as mild, including four patients each (6.8 percent) with dry eyes, dry mouth and an increased appetite; Two patients (3.4 percent) reported trouble concentrating, fatigue or disorientation. One patient reported nausea, headaches, changes in taste, a scratchy throat, lethargy and restlessness. No serious side effects, such as psychosis, were reported, and the research team of doctors, psychiatrists and scientists confirmed the safety of medical treatment with cannabis. 

The research also comes on the heels of another pivotal development for medical cannabis in Germany, as the federal government is set to reclassify cannabis as a non-narcotic and enable doctors to prescribe the plant as an Rx medication, paving the way for increased access and lower costs.

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About Algea Care

Algea Care is Germany’s first and leading platform for telehealth-supported and evidence-based medical treatment with cannabis. The company, which was founded in Frankfurt in 2020 following legislation in Germany that legalized cannabis for medical use, has also become established as a pioneer in medical treatment with specifically suitable components of the hemp plant, such as CBD. Algea Care’s medical cannabis treatment offerings aim to be a promising alternative for patients whose conditions have not improved following treatment with conventional therapies and medications. These include patients experiencing chronic conditions and symptoms, including chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, depression, ADHD, and sleep disorders.

Press contact (on behalf of Algea Care)

*The main authors of the study include:

• Dr. rer. medic Michael Specka, LVR Essen Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Duisburg-Essen, scientist and first author of the study.
• Prof. Dr. med. Norbert Scherbaum, Medical Director at the LVR Clinic Essen and Chief Physician at the LVR Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Chairman of the Board of the German Center for Addiction Issues, and Professor of Clinical Addiction Research at the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg Essen.
• Prof. Dr. med. Udo Bonnet, head physician of the Clinic for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics at the Evangelical Hospital Castrop-Rauxel, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, extraordinary member of the Drug Commission since 2011 and professor of clinical psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
• Dr. med. Julian Wichmann, specialist and founder and managing director of Algea Care.
• Prof. Dr. med. Norbert Scherbaum, medical director at the LVR Clinic in Essen and chief physician at the LVR Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Duisburg-Essen:
• Dr. rer. medic. Michael Specka, LVR Essen Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University of Duisburg-Esse