Use of CBD Oil in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Summary

The overarching objective of the proposed project is to test the clinical efficacy of CBD in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder using a rigorous double-blind randomized clinical trial methodology. Participants (n=150) meeting full DSM-5 criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be randomized to one of 3 treatment arms: (a) CBD -Isolate; (b) CBD-Broad Spectrum; (c) Placebo oil. We predict that patients receiving CBD isolate or CBD Broad Spectrum will show significantly greater improvements in PTSD symptoms and functional impairment at the posttreatment and one-month follow-up relative to patients receiving placebo oil. Additionally, we expect that patients receiving CBD Broad Spectrum will show significantly greater improvements relative to patients receiving CBD Isolate.

Timeline

Start

2020-01-15

Primary completion

2024-05

Completion

2025-05

Publications

• Background Shalev AY, Gevonden M, Ratanatharathorn A, Laska E, van der Mei WF, Qi W, Lowe S, Lai BS, Bryant RA, Delahanty D, Matsuoka YJ, Olff M, Schnyder U, Seedat S, deRoon-Cassini TA, Kessler RC, Koenen KC; International Consortium to Predict PTSD. Estimating the risk of PTSD in recent trauma survivors: results of the International Consortium to Predict PTSD (ICPP). World Psychiatry. 2019 Feb;18(1):77-87. doi: 10.1002/wps.20608.
• Background Powers MB, Gillihan SJ, Rosenfield D, Jerud AB, Foa EB. Reliability and validity of the PDS and PSS-I among participants with PTSD and alcohol dependence. J Anxiety Disord. 2012 Jun;26(5):617-23. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.02.013. Epub 2012 Mar 3.
• Background Merikangas KR, Akiskal HS, Angst J, Greenberg PE, Hirschfeld RM, Petukhova M, Kessler RC. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 May;64(5):543-52. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.64.5.543.
• Background Powers MB, Halpern JM, Ferenschak MP, Gillihan SJ, Foa EB. A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Aug;30(6):635-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.04.007. Epub 2010 May 2.
• Background White CM. A Review of Human Studies Assessing Cannabidiol's (CBD) Therapeutic Actions and Potential. J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;59(7):923-934. doi: 10.1002/jcph.1387. Epub 2019 Feb 7.
• Background Devinsky O, Cross JH, Laux L, Marsh E, Miller I, Nabbout R, Scheffer IE, Thiele EA, Wright S; Cannabidiol in Dravet Syndrome Study Group. Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2017 May 25;376(21):2011-2020. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1611618.
• Background Devinsky O, Patel AD, Cross JH, Villanueva V, Wirrell EC, Privitera M, Greenwood SM, Roberts C, Checketts D, VanLandingham KE, Zuberi SM; GWPCARE3 Study Group. Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2018 May 17;378(20):1888-1897. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1714631.
• Background McGuire P, Robson P, Cubala WJ, Vasile D, Morrison PD, Barron R, Taylor A, Wright S. Cannabidiol (CBD) as an Adjunctive Therapy in Schizophrenia: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Mar 1;175(3):225-231. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17030325. Epub 2017 Dec 15.
• Background Bergamaschi MM, Queiroz RH, Chagas MH, de Oliveira DC, De Martinis BS, Kapczinski F, Quevedo J, Roesler R, Schroder N, Nardi AE, Martin-Santos R, Hallak JE, Zuardi AW, Crippa JA. Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naive social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 May;36(6):1219-26. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.6. Epub 2011 Feb 9.
• Background Berk M, Ng F, Dodd S, Callaly T, Campbell S, Bernardo M, Trauer T. The validity of the CGI severity and improvement scales as measures of clinical effectiveness suitable for routine clinical use. J Eval Clin Pract. 2008 Dec;14(6):979-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2007.00921.x. Epub 2008 May 2.
• Background Pinto-Meza A, Serrano-Blanco A, Penarrubia MT, Blanco E, Haro JM. Assessing depression in primary care with the PHQ-9: can it be carried out over the telephone? J Gen Intern Med. 2005 Aug;20(8):738-42. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0144.x.
• Background Leon AC, Olfson M, Portera L, Farber L, Sheehan DV. Assessing psychiatric impairment in primary care with the Sheehan Disability Scale. Int J Psychiatry Med. 1997;27(2):93-105. doi: 10.2190/T8EM-C8YH-373N-1UWD.
• Background Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. The WHOQOL Group. Psychol Med. 1998 May;28(3):551-8. doi: 10.1017/s0033291798006667.
• Telch MJ, Fischer CM, Zaizar ED, Rubin M, Papini S. Use of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2022 Nov;122:106933. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106933. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

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