A Clinical Trial of a Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol Product for Anxiety

This open-label to double-blind study evaluates the impact of cannabidiol (CBD) on anxiety in adults. Participants will use a custom-formulated sublingual (under-the-tongue) solution of whole plant, hemp-derived CBD twice daily for six weeks in addition to their normal treatment regimen. Participants' clinical state will be assessed weekly during the treatment period. Quality of life, sleep, general health, and cognitive function will also be assessed.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Anxiety
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: CBD

Detailed Description

This investigation will be the first of its kind to conduct a clinical trial of an industrial hemp-derived product in individuals with anxiety. Despite the recent interest in medical cannabis and cannabinoid-based products, the availability of hemp-derived products in all 50 states, and anecdotal evidence suggesting that hemp-derived products may have a profound anxiolytic effect, no studies have conducted a clinical trial of a hemp-derived product in individuals who suffer from anxiety.

This investigation is composed of two phases. Phase 1 is comprised of a six-week open-label clinical trial of the custom formulated hemp-derived high-CBD solution in individuals with anxiety (n=12). Participants will be pre-screened by phone in order to evaluate their eligibility for the study. If approved, participants will come to the hospital for a baseline/screening visit, and will complete a structured clinical interview, clinical and quality of life questionnaires, and cognitive assessments. Enrolled participants will be given study product to use for the duration of the study; participants will be instructed to self-administer the solution under the tongue twice daily for six weeks. Throughout the treatment period, participants will complete short in-person or phone visits on a weekly basis, where they will complete questionnaires about their mood and quality of life. Participants will also return to the hospital for a final visit after six weeks of treatment to complete additional questionnaires and cognitive assessments.

Phase 2 of the study is a double-blind clinical trial of this solution in patients with anxiety (n=40). This double-blind trial will begin after the open-label trial has been completed. In the same manner as the open-label trial, participants will be pre-screened by phone, and approved participants will come to the hospital for a baseline/screening visit to complete a structured clinical interview, questionnaires, and cognitive assessments. Eligible participants will also have the option to complete an hour-long MRI scan at the baseline and final visits. Enrolled participants will receive either CBD solution or placebo solution to self-administer throughout the six week treatment period, as described above. Participants will complete in-person visits and phone check-ins during the treatment period to complete questionnaires about their mood and quality of life. Participants in this phase of the study will also return for a final visit after six weeks of treatment to complete additional questionnaires, cognitive assessments, and an optional MRI scan. Note: Phase 2 was planned but study termination occurred prior to commencement.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Belmont, Massachusetts, United States, 02478
      • Mclean Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject has provided informed consent
• Subject is 18 or older
• Subject is a native English speaker or acquired English prior to age 5
• Subject endorses moderate or severe anxiety at the screening visit

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non-native English speakers
• Estimated IQ < 75
• Current substance abuse/dependence, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or an eating disorder
• A history of head injury or loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes
• Currently uses marijuana or cannabinoid-based products more frequently than 1x/month
• Female subjects will be excluded if they have a positive urine pregnancy test, or if they are currently breastfeeding
• Presence of a serious medical illness, including liver or kidney disease, or neurological disorder
• Allergy to coconut oil
• Current use of valproate
• Additional exclusions related to MR imaging, including claustrophobia, metal implanted within the body, etc.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: CBD; 0.5ml of sublingual CBD solution (30mg/ml) administered twice daily for six weeks.	Drug: CBD; Participants will receive CBD solution during the open-label phase of the trial.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline in Self-Reported Anxiety as Assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)	The BAI is a 21-item self-report measure used to rate subjective, somatic, and panic-related symptoms of anxiety on a scale of 0 to 3, and will be given to participants on a weekly basis.	6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mclean Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 24, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 24, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 25, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 25, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): February 27, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 24, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Anxiety Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019P003885

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No