A groundbreaking study into the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on psychosis is set to launch later this year. This study, led by Oxford University and coordinated by the Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research, aims to build upon strong preliminary evidence to establish whether CBD could be a viable alternative to opioids in treating psychosis. This could potentially open up a whole new field for which cannabis-based medicines could be prescribed.
The Study
The study will involve 1,000 patients and take place in 35 centres across Europe and North America. The participants will be individuals at a clinically high risk for psychosis, people with first-episode psychosis, and people with psychosis who have not responded to conventional treatment. This will be a randomized control trial, with half the participants being treated with CBD and the other half receiving a placebo, both alongside standard medical treatments for psychosis.
The goal is to assess the participants before and after treatment to clarify how cannabidiol acts to produce its effects and to identify factors that predict the response to treatment. Researchers will also aim to identify biological signposts which would indicate a patient might respond well to the treatment, allowing for greater personalization of treatment in the future.
The Potential of CBD in Treating Psychosis
CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in the Cannabis sativa plant, has shown strong preliminary evidence in support of its efficacy for psychosis. A study titled “Cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel treatment in the early phases of psychosis” suggests that CBD could be an ideal treatment for the early phases of psychosis, when minimizing adverse effects is a clinical priority.
Another study on the effects of short-term cannabidiol treatment on response to social stress in subjects at clinical high risk of developing psychosis showed that CBD might be used to affect cortisol response in clinical high risk for psychosis patients and any effect this may have on symptoms.
The Future of CBD in Mainstream Research
While the study has been widely celebrated as a significant step forward in bringing cannabis-based medicine into mainstream research, it has also been described as a ‘missed opportunity’ as it will focus only on isolate CBD via GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidyolex. Some researchers argue that full-spectrum cannabis, which contains the full variety of cannabinoids and terpenes, works more effectively and with fewer side effects.
Despite these concerns, this research represents a significant step forward in understanding the potential of CBD as a treatment for psychosis. As we continue to explore the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, it’s clear that CBD has a promising future in mainstream medical research.
