Use of CBD Oil for Reducing the Negative Emotional Impact of COVID-19: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and Significance of the Proposed Project

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit us like a ton of bricks creating unimaginable levels of unanticipated death, financial hardship, and dramatic changes in nearly every facet of our life including school, work, shopping, social and family life. Sadly, the physical, mental, economic, and health burden of COVID-19 disproportionately affects the poor, the elderly, and people of color.

The stress induced by these changes as well as the lack of control we have over them increases risk for new onset of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, sleep disturbance, and family violence as well as exacerbation of symptoms among those with pre-existing psychiatric conditions. Although many people will successfully manage the increased stress from COVID-19 on their own or with the support from family and friends, others may need extra help to cope. Consequently, there is an urgent need for developing cost-effective strategies for managing the stress-induced psychological consequences of COVID-19.

There's been considerable excitement in the press over the potential therapeutic use of cannabidiol (CBD) products in the treatment of a variety of physical and mental health problems. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC) is still illegal in most states because of its psychoactive abuse potential. In contrast, cannabidiol (CBD) does not convert to THC in the body and has negligible side effects relative to main-stream psychiatric drugs (benzodiazepines and antidepressants) commonly prescribed for the treatment of stress-related disorders such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Mounting evidence from studies with rodents suggests that CBD may confer significant promising health-related benefits including anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, anti-cancer, memory enhancement, and facilitation of fear extinction (see White for a recent review).

The biggest success story for CBD use in humans to date comes from placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials demonstrating a 50% or more reduction in previously intractable seizures in children suffering from Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Moreover, several controlled clinical trials have shown promising findings in reducing psychotic symptoms among patients with schizophrenia and among young adults displaying THC-induced psychosis.