MedPath

Assessing the Impact of Cannabidiol for Anxiety and Depression in Bipolar Disorder

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Bipolar Disorder
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05457465
Lead Sponsor
Mclean Hospital
Brief Summary

Preliminary data have suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) may have a number of clinical benefits, including anti-anxiety and antidepressant properties. This study is a pilot open-label clinical trial assessing a custom-formulated high-CBD product over the course of 4 weeks in patients with bipolar disorder who experience anxiety.

Detailed Description

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

This investigation consists of a four-week open-label clinical trial of the custom formulated hemp-derived high-CBD solution. Participants will be pre-screened by phone in order to evaluate their eligibility for the study. If approved, potentially eligible participants will come to the hospital for a screening visit, and will complete a structured clinical interview, clinical and quality of life questionnaires, a urine screen, and a blood draw. Eligible participants will return for a baseline visit consisting of additional clinical and quality of life questionnaires, a brief cognitive assessment, and a buccal swab for genetic analysis. Participants will be given study product to use for the duration of the study, and will be instructed to self-administer the solution under the tongue twice daily for four weeks. Throughout the treatment period, participants will complete short in-person or remote 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 four weeks of treatment to complete additional questionnaires and cognitive assessments.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
25
Inclusion Criteria
  • Provides informed consent
  • Between the ages of 18-65
  • Fluent in English
  • Meets DSM-5 criteria for bipolar disorder (type I or II)
  • Experiences at least moderate levels of anxiety (as evidenced by self-reported rating scales)
  • On a stable pharmacotherapeutic regimen
Exclusion Criteria
  • Not fluent in English
  • Estimated IQ <75
  • Current substance use disorder, current eating disorder, current or past psychotic disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder)
  • Endorsement of suicidality
  • Experiencing acute manic episode
  • Experiencing acute depressive episode
  • History of head injury/loss of consciousness >5 minutes
  • Current regular use of cannabinoid products
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Presence of serious medical illness or neurological disorder
  • Allergy to palm oil
  • Current use of valproate or divalproex; other concomitant medications may result in exclusion on a case-by-case basis
  • Currently enrolled in another clinical trial that involves a treatment
  • Elevated LFTs at screening visit

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Hemp-Derived Cannabidiol SolutionCannabidiolPatients will administer a custom-formulated, hemp-derived, high-CBD solution twice daily for 4 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in self-reported ratings of anxiety on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)4 weeks

Anxiety will be assessed using a number of self-report and administered clinical ratings scales: the primary outcome measure will be the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), which is a 21-item self-report measure used to rate subjective, somatic, and panic-related symptoms of anxiety on a scale of 0 (not at all) to 3 (severely). The total score ranges from 0 (no anxiety) to 63 (severe anxiety).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in self-reported ratings of depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)4 weeks

Depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), which is a 21-item self-report measure used to rate symptoms of depression on a scale of 0 (none) to 3 (very much). The total score ranges from 0 (no depressive symptoms) to 63 (severe depressive symptoms).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

McLean Hospital

🇺🇸

Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath