Effects of Medical Cannabis Treatment for Autistic Children on Family Accommodation: An Open-Label Mixed-Methods Study

Highlights: What are the main findings? CBD-rich cannabis treatment over 6 months was associated with reduced family accommodation (FA) and parental distress in families of autistic children. Qualitative findings showed improved family routines, parental well-being, and greater engagement in meaningful activities and social interactions. Implications CBD-rich cannabis treatment may reduce FA and parental distress, while improving family routines and well-being. These results provide preliminary support for CBD-rich cannabis treatment in autistic children, though further controlled studies are needed. Background/Objectives: Parents of autistic children often face behavioral and participation challenges of their children, leading them to make accommodations to maintain a stable daily family routine. These family accommodations (FA) involve adapting family routines, actively engaging with the child’s support needs and symptoms, and avoiding specific situations. Methods: This open-label, mixed-methods study investigated the impact of CBD-rich cannabis treatment on FA. In the quantitative phase, analyses included 44 parents (from 87 initially recruited) who had complete FAS-RRB data at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. In the following qualitative phase, 15 parents from the full sample participated in semi-structured interviews. Results: Quantitative results showed reductions in FA frequency and parental distress at 3 and 6 months. Qualitative findings revealed positive changes in family routines, enhanced well-being, and improved parental engagement in meaningful activities and social interactions. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that CBD-rich cannabis treatment may reduce family accommodation (FA) and parental distress, while improving family routines and well-being. However, given the open-label design and observed adverse events and withdrawals, the findings should be interpreted with caution.