Open-label trial finds CBD reduced anxiety by 43% in young people who did not respond to standard treatment

Q: What dose of CBD was used?

CBD was titrated on a fixed-flexible schedule up to 800 mg per day, which is significantly higher than doses found in most consumer CBD products.

Q: Were there any safety concerns?

80.6% of participants reported at least one adverse event, most commonly fatigue, low mood, and hot flushes or cold chills. However, there were no serious or unexpected adverse events during the 12-week trial.

In 31 young people aged 12-25 with anxiety disorders that had not responded to therapy or medication, 12 weeks of add-on CBD (up to 800 mg/day) reduced anxiety severity by 42.6%.

Berger, Maximus et al.·The Journal of clinical psychiatry·2022·Preliminary EvidencePilot Study

CBD (1125)Anxiety (227)Youth (1291)Medical Cannabis (1546)

Quick Facts

Study Type

Pilot Study

Evidence

Preliminary Evidence

Sample

N=31

What This Study Found

Mean OASIS anxiety scores decreased from 10.8 at baseline to 6.3 at week 12, a 42.6% reduction (p<0.001). Depression, clinical global impressions, and functioning also improved significantly. 80.6% of participants reported adverse events, most commonly fatigue and low mood, but no serious or unexpected events occurred.

Key Numbers

31 participants; ages 12-25; CBD titrated up to 800 mg/day; 42.6% reduction in anxiety severity (OASIS scores 10.8 to 6.3); 80.6% reported adverse events; no serious adverse events.

How They Did This

Open-label trial of 31 young people aged 12-25 with DSM-5 anxiety disorders who had not improved with CBT and/or antidepressants. All received add-on CBD on a fixed-flexible schedule titrated up to 800 mg/day for 12 weeks.

Why This Research Matters

Treatment resistance in youth anxiety is common (affecting nearly half of patients), and this trial provides initial evidence that CBD could be a viable add-on option for this underserved group.

The Bigger Picture

With nearly half of young people with anxiety not responding to standard treatments, finding safe add-on options is a clinical priority. This pilot provides initial support for CBD, but the lack of a placebo control means the results need confirmation.

What This Study Doesn't Tell Us

Open-label design with no placebo control, so expectancy effects cannot be ruled out. Small sample size (n=31). High rate of mild adverse events. No long-term follow-up. Add-on design makes it difficult to isolate CBD's specific contribution.

Questions This Raises

?Would the effects hold up in a placebo-controlled trial?
?Is 800 mg/day the optimal dose, or could lower doses work?
?What happens after CBD is discontinued?

Trust & Context

Key Stat:: 42.6% reduction in anxiety severity over 12 weeks
Evidence Grade:: Open-label pilot study without placebo control. Promising but needs RCT confirmation.
Study Age:: Published in 2022 with enrollment from 2018-2019.
Original Title:: Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial.
Published In:: The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 83(5) (2022)
Authors:: Berger, Maximus(3), Li, Emily, Rice, Simon, Davey, Christopher G, Ratheesh, Aswin, Adams, Sophie, Jackson, Henry, Hetrick, Sarah, Parker, Alexandra, Spelman, Tim, Kevin, Richard, McGregor, Iain S, McGorry, Patrick, Amminger, G Paul
Database ID:: RTHC-03706

Evidence Hierarchy

Meta-Analysis / Systematic Review

Randomized Controlled Trial

Cohort / Case-Control

Cross-Sectional / ObservationalSnapshot without intervening

This study

Case Report / Animal Study

A small preliminary study to test whether a larger study is feasible.

What do these levels mean? →

Frequently Asked Questions

What dose of CBD was used?

CBD was titrated on a fixed-flexible schedule up to 800 mg per day, which is significantly higher than doses found in most consumer CBD products.

Were there any safety concerns?

80.6% of participants reported at least one adverse event, most commonly fatigue, low mood, and hot flushes or cold chills. However, there were no serious or unexpected adverse events during the 12-week trial.

Cite This Study

RTHC-03706·https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03706

APA

Berger, Maximus; Li, Emily; Rice, Simon; Davey, Christopher G; Ratheesh, Aswin; Adams, Sophie; Jackson, Henry; Hetrick, Sarah; Parker, Alexandra; Spelman, Tim; Kevin, Richard; McGregor, Iain S; McGorry, Patrick; Amminger, G Paul. (2022). Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial.. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 83(5). https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.21m14130

MLA

Berger, Maximus, et al. "Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in Young People: An Open-Label Trial.." The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2022. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.21m14130

RethinkTHC

RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol for Treatment-Resistant Anxiety Disorders in You..." RTHC-03706. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/berger-2022-cannabidiol-for-treatmentresistant-anxiety

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Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.

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