Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial

M Berger; E Li; S Rice; CG Davey; A Ratheesh; S Adams; H Jackson; S Hetrick; A Parker; T Spelman; R Kevin; IS McGregor; P McGorry; GP Amminger

Journal article

Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial

M Berger, E Li, S Rice, CG Davey, A Ratheesh, S Adams, H Jackson, S Hetrick, A Parker, T Spelman, R Kevin, IS McGregor, P McGorry, GP Amminger

Journal of Clinical Psychiatry | PHYSICIANS POSTGRADUATE PRESS | Published : 2022

DOI: 10.4088/JCP.21m14130

Abstract

Background: Treatment resistance is a significant problem among young people experiencing moderate-to-severe anxiety, affecting nearly half of all patients. This study investigated the safety and efficacy of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating component of Cannabis sativa, for anxiety disorders in young people who previously failed to respond to standard treatment. Methods: In this open-label trial, 31 young people aged 12–25 years with a DSM-5 anxiety disorder and no clinical improvement despite treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or antidepressant medication were enrolled between May 16, 2018, and June 28, 2019. All participants received add-on CBD for 12 weeks on a fixed-fle..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Maximus Berger Author

Simon Rice Author

Chris Davey Author

Aswin Ratheesh Author

Related Projects (1)

LIPID BIOLOGY FOR PREDICTION AND PREVENTION OF PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS AND PERSISTENT DEPRESSION IN YOUNG PEOPLE

My vision for the next 5 years is to establish ω-3PUFAs as a first-line treatment for indicated prevention of psychosis and persistent depre..

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The study was funded by a grant from the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics (Sydney, NSW, Australia). M. B. was supported by a Rapid Applied Research Translation Fellowship awarded by the Medical Research Future Fund (Canberra, ACT, Australia). G.P. A. was supported by an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (1080963).