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

Phase 2

Terminated

Conditions: Anxiety

Interventions: Drug: CBD

Registration Number: NCT04286594

Lead Sponsor: Mclean Hospital

Brief Summary: 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.

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 15

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 & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
CBD	CBD	0.5ml of sublingual CBD solution (30mg/ml) administered twice daily for six weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Self-Reported Anxiety as Assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)	6 weeks	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. The possible range of scores is 0-63.

Secondary Outcome Measures