The prevalence of generalized anxiety disorders among young people is increasing, representing a significant health concern if traditional treatments do not work. Anxiety is intense, excessive, and persistent worry about daily activities.
The more traditional treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressant medication, help many but leave large numbers of youths without effective treatment.
In a study led by Maximus Berger, MD, PhD, the team examined whether cannabidiol (CBD) might be an effective option to treat youth with treatment-resistant anxiety disorders.
Treatment-Resistant Anxiety. A Dilemma
Anxiety disorders, especially in youth, are traditionally complex to treat.
Teenagers and people in their early 20s find life processes stressful, and for almost half of them, the standard treatments do not seem to work effectively.
The sample size for the study was participants within the age group of 12-25 years who had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder according to specific (DSM-5) criteria.
Even after stabilization with CBT and anxiolytic medications, significant improvement had not been observed in these patients. So this subgroup appeared to be the best to evaluate novel treatment options.
The study design was open-label in that both the researchers and participants were cognizant of whatever treatment was administered, which, in this case, was CBD.
Methods and Participant Demographics
The clinical trial involved 31 participants recruited from May 16, 2018, to June 28, 2019. Participants were administered CBD in a titrated fashion from 400 mg up to 800 mg per day over a duration of 12 weeks.
This dosing schedule was designed with the intention of optimally balancing the efficacy and tolerability requirements so that patients would be able to effectively manage their symptoms of anxiety without mortifying side effects.
The primary outcome measure was the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS), quantifying the degree of anxiety symptoms. Secondary outcomes were depressive symptoms, overall clinical impression, and social and occupational function.
These were highly comprehensive measures, ensuring a reliable structure in the evaluation of the impact of CBD on mental health.
Significant Findings and Impact
The study reflected positive results. The findings of the mean OASIS scores demonstrated markedly lowered results from 10.8 at baseline to 6.3 at week 12.
The data showed a significant 42.6 percent reduction in anxiety severity.
This resulted in a statistically significant reduction and therefore underlined potential efficacy as a treatment for symptoms of anxiety through CBD.
Additionally, depressive symptoms and scores on the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity scale also improved significantly, indicative of CBD possibly playing a part in general aspects of mood and perception about mental health.
Positive changes in functioning in social and occupational domains also occurred, which would indicate that the participants would approach their daily functioning skills and demands more adequately.
Improvement is crucial in such areas because anxiety often worsens the academic performance, social interactions, and general background of well-being of young individuals.
Safety Profile and Tolerability
This study further confirms the safety and tolerability of CBD. Eighty point six percent of participants reported AEs, with the most frequent being fatigue, low feelings, and temperature dysregulation, including hot flushes or cold chills.
Notably, there were no severe or unexpected adverse events, suggesting the safety of CBD at the particular constantly tested doses when given to young individuals.
Despite these ADRs and the fact that some were regarded as severe, the general tolerability of CBD is again within the acceptable limits, considering the sky-high reductions of anxiety symptomatology.
Such a delicate balance between the level of efficacy and a competitive level of safety must be maintained in the unfolding potential for CBD as a treatment option for young individuals who are having treatment-resistant anxious episodes.
Implications and Future Directions
Although results appear to be very promising, more of this research from the open-label studies should be presented from the randomized trials to pin down the efficacy and safety of CBD firmly.
Such trials will somehow reduce bias and reflect more substantial evidence to be used as a backbone for the use of CBD in a clinical setting.
Indeed, long-term studies are required to show evident longer-term implications of use and the overall impact for extended periods. The implications of this research are immense.
CBD could revolutionize the treatment of anxiety-related disorders in young people, restore hope to the failures of the current standard therapies, and nurture a more widespread acceptance and use of CBD in psychiatric treatment regimens for other types of treatment resistant mental illnesses
A New Frontier in Anxiety Treatment
Exploring cannabidiol for anxiety disorders in youths indicates a significant stride for mental health treatment innovations.
Maximus Berger and team’s study is one of a kind and demonstrates reduced anxiety levels with improved overall functioning and a tolerable safety profile that can be achieved with CBD.
With this journey in understanding and harnessing CBD, the potential to change lives through this compound becomes increasingly evident.
