Survey finds 86% of patients with psychosis willing to try CBD as treatment | Research

The takeaway

Among 70 patients with psychotic disorders, 86% were willing to try CBD as a treatment, 69% believed it would improve their symptoms, and 64% expected fewer side effects than current antipsychotic medications.

Psychiatrists, psychosis patients, and researchers developing CBD-based treatments for psychotic disorders.

86% of psychosis patients willing to try CBD treatment

What the researchers found

86% of patients were willing to try CBD. 69% believed CBD would improve their psychotic symptoms. 64% expected CBD to have fewer side effects than their current medications (mainly antipsychotics). Only 10% were concerned CBD might worsen psychosis, and this appeared to reflect confusion between CBD and cannabis.

Why it matters

Patient acceptability is crucial for treatment success, especially in psychosis where medication adherence is a major challenge. The high willingness to try CBD, combined with its emerging evidence and low side effect profile, makes it a promising candidate.

The numbers in context

70 patients surveyed; 86% willing to try CBD; 69% expected symptom improvement; 64% expected fewer side effects; 10% concerned about worsening psychosis.

How the study worked

Survey of 70 patients with psychotic disorders assessing expectations about CBD efficacy and side effects.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample (n=70). Patients may conflate expectations with hopes. Acceptability does not predict efficacy. No assessment of patient understanding of the difference between CBD and THC. Selection bias toward patients open to novel treatments.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional survey assessing acceptability, not efficacy.

When this study was published

Published in 2022.

The bigger picture

The high acceptability of CBD among psychosis patients reflects broader public awareness of cannabis-derived compounds. If clinical trials confirm efficacy, CBD could improve adherence rates that plague antipsychotic treatment.

Questions still open

Would the 10% who feared worsening change their minds with proper education about CBD vs. THC? Does high acceptability translate to better adherence if CBD is prescribed? What dose would be needed for antipsychotic effects?

Common questions

Would patients with psychosis accept CBD treatment?

Yes, based on this survey. 86% of patients were willing to try CBD, driven by expectations of symptom improvement and fewer side effects than their current antipsychotic medications.

Were patients concerned CBD might worsen psychosis?

Only 10% expressed this concern, and the researchers noted this appeared to stem from confusion between CBD (which has potential antipsychotic properties) and cannabis (which contains THC that can worsen psychosis).

Read the original research

Acceptability of cannabidiol in patients with psychosis.

Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 12, 20451253221128445

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Chesney, Edward; Lamper, Doga; Lloyd, Millie; Oliver, Dominic; Hird, Emily; McGuire, Philip. (2022). Acceptability of cannabidiol in patients with psychosis.. Therapeutic advances in psychopharmacology, 12, 20451253221128445. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253221128445