Cannabidiol and Prolonged Exposure

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: PTSD
• Interventions: Behavioral: Prolonged Exposure; Drug: placebo; Drug: Cannabidiol

• Registration Number: NCT03518801
• Lead Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Brief Summary

The trial will include a randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy of using Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid, as an adjunctive to Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE). The trial will compare PE + CBD to PE + placebo in a sample of 136 military Veterans with PTSD at the VA San Diego Medical Center. The study represents the logical and innovative next step for augmenting existing treatments and developing novel pharmacotherapy for PTSD. Findings from the proposed RCT will inform clinical practice and policy by investigating whether administration of CBD in the context of PE therapy will improve treatment outcomes for military Veterans with PTSD.

Detailed Description

Prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is among the most efficacious treatments for PTSD and is designated as a VA/DoD frontline treatment. However, PE does not always lead to clinically meaningful symptom reductions in Veterans with PTSD. Successful PE treatment relies on extinction learning, which is often impaired in patients with PTSD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating phytocannabinoid. Administration of specific phytocannabinoids, like CBD, increase extinction learning in patients with PTSD, and could increase the speed and effectiveness of PE therapy. CBD also modulates 5-HT1A, which may directly improve hyperarousal/insomnia symptoms, and improve engagement and retention in treatment. Given these findings, adjunctive administration of CBD+PE could improve response rates to PE and reduce the number of sessions of PE needed to reach clinically meaningful change. The proposed study is designed to test the efficacy of using CBD in conjunction with PE for the treatment of PTSD in US Military Veterans. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study will compare Veterans who receive PE+CBD to PE+placebo. Participants will include 136 male and female Veterans from all service eras with PTSD. The primary hypothesis is that PE+CBD will reduce PTSD symptoms to a greater degree than PE+placebo.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-04-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-04-25
• Study First Posted: 2018-05-08
• Study Start: 2019-10-01
• Status Verified: 2024-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-10-03
• Last Update Posted: 2024-10-07
• Primary Completion: 2025-09-30
• Study Completion: 2025-09-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 136

Inclusion Criteria

• Over the age of 18 at the time of screening.
• Judged by the study physician to be in generally good health.
• Meet clinical criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5).
• Negative urine pregnancy test.

Exclusion Criteria

• History of significant allergic condition, significant drug-related hypersensitivity, or allergic reaction to cannabinoids.
• Used cannabis, synthetic cannabinoid, cannabinoid analogue, or any CBD or THC-containing product within 30 days of eligibility screening.
• Patient has had a change in psychopharmacotherapy regimen in the last 4 weeks, or has any plans to change regimen over the course of the study.
• Patient is engaged in trauma-related psychotherapy for PTSD.
• Current or past DSM-5 diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, eating disorder with active purging, personality disorders, primary psychotic disorder, or bipolar affective disorder type 1.
• Patient is currently prescribed medications with possible CBD-drug interactions.
• History of actual suicide attempt in the last 5 years.
• Unmanaged obstructive sleep apnea.
• Positive drug screen for THC, barbiturates, amphetamines (if not prescribed), benzodiazepines, and/or opiates.
• History of treatment for, or evidence of, moderate to severe alcohol or drug abuse within the past year or regular alcohol consumption exceeding recommended limits.
• Lifetime history of Cannabis Use Disorder.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Prolonged Exposure + Placebo	placebo	Psychotherapy plus placebo medication
Prolonged Exposure + Cannabidiol	Prolonged Exposure	Psychotherapy plus active medication
Prolonged Exposure + Cannabidiol	Cannabidiol	Psychotherapy plus active medication
Prolonged Exposure + Placebo	Prolonged Exposure	Psychotherapy plus placebo medication

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale DSM 5 (CAPS-5)	Baseline, Post Treatment (16-weeks), 1-Month Follow-up (20-weeks), 3-Month Follow-up (28-weeks)	Change in PTSD Symptoms will be assessed by change in Total Severity Score (summed severity ratings on items 1-20) on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale DSM 5 (CAPS-5); CAPS-5 Total Severity scores range from 0 to 80; Higher scores indicate higher severity.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PTSD Checklist (PCL-5)	Baseline, Weekly (up to 16-weeks)	Rate of PTSD symptom reduction will be assessed by comparing the time-to-event of clinical response to treatment. The time-to-event is defined by number of PE sessions completed before patient achieves a 10-point reduction from baseline in total (summed) PTSD Checklist scores (PCL-5). PCL-5 Total Scores range from 0 to 80; Higher scores indicate worse functioning.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA; 🇺🇸 San Diego, California, United States