CBD For Ultra High-Risk Psychosis Patients
This study summary provides fact-based answers about CBD benefits psychosis.
- learn how CBD is being used for Psychosis at critical risk
- know the exact benefits of CBD for psychosis in a clinical setting
- know the optimal oral CBD dosage tested and possible adverse effects
- learn how CBD benefits patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis
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Published January 8 2020
Study Results
Patients at ultra-high risk for psychosis and taking 600 mg/day dose of CBD for one week exhibited an “intermediate” response for:
- stress
- anxiety
- cortisol tests (a chemical measurement of response to stress). (1)
Summary
Control Groups
The intermediate response of the CBD group was in comparison to two control groups:
- individuals not at risk for psychosis (no CBD)
- individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis taking placebo (no CBD) (2)
Testing
Evaluations of stress, anxiety and cortisol levels were made in the context of a high-stress environment—simulated public speaking.
Participants
A total of 58 individuals took part in this 1-week study.
- 16 Ultra-High Risk For Psychosis taking 600 mg/day CBD
- 16 Ultra-High Risk For Psychosis taking placebo (no CBD)
- 26 Not At Risk For Psychosis (Healthy Control Group/no CBD) (3)
Evaluation Process
All participants were evaluated during a Trier social stress test (TSST) which is used to reliably induce stress in human study participants.
- During the stress test, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the increase in cortisol (a chemical measurement of the increase in stress) was greatest in the healthy control group (no CBD) and lowest in the high-risk placebo group (no CBD). (4)
Results
- The high-risk group taking CBD had an increase in cortisol which fell between the healthy group (no CBD) and the placebo group (no CBD). So, the chemical measure of stress response for the high-risk group taking CBD showed less stress than the healthy control group but a greater stress load than the high risk for psychosis placebo control group.
- Evaluations of cortisol reactivity were mixed as well.
- Cannabidiol did not appear to change cortisol reactivity during the stress test of individuals at high risk for psychosis.
- There were minimal changes in cortisol reactivity between the high-risk placebo group (no CBD) and the high-risk group who were taking CBD.
- Changes in anxiety levels and experience of public speaking stress were most pronounced in the high-risk placebo group (No CBD) and least in the healthy control group (No CBD).
- As with the cortisol results, the high-risk group taking CBD had an “intermediate” response which fell between the healthy control group and the high-risk placebo group. (5)
Conclusion
“It is worthwhile to design further well-powered studies which investigate whether CBD may be used to affect cortisol response in clinical high risk for psychosis patients and any effect this may have on symptoms.” (6)
Interested learning about the benefits of CBD for anxiety disorders? Check out this guide.
Download The CBD Research
Video: Dr. Gordon on CBD and Psychosis
References
Appiah-Kusi E, Petros N, Wilson R, et al. Effects of short-term cannabidiol treatment on response to social stress in subjects at clinical high risk of developing psychosis [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jan 8]. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020;10.1007/s00213-019-05442-6. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05442-6
Study Authors
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht University
Department of Psychology, IoPPN, King’s College London
National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre
National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre
Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN, King’s College London
National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre
National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre
Keywords: Cannabidiol; Psychosis; Trier Social Stress Test; Ultra-high risk
really interesting to see how CBD effects psychosis in an extreme situation. I read that there was a bill in washington state that wanted to cap the THC limit of concentrates at 10% because there was a study that showed some correlellatin between dabbing high THC wax and psychosis. Not sure if that was good science but the politicians just grabbed the 10% THC cap on concentrates out of thin air. Pretty sure the law failed to pass recently.