CBD Oil May Reduce Hyperactivity and Attention Problems in Children With Autism
An open-label study of 53 children with autism found CBD-rich cannabis oil significantly improved hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, and emotional regulation over 3-6 months — the first study using teacher-based assessments.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Significant improvements were observed in anxiety-shyness, perfectionism, ADHD index, emotional lability, and hyperactivity-impulsivity (all p<0.001). Additional trends toward improvement in oppositional behavior, cognitive inattention, hyperactivity, and DSM-IV inattention scores. Higher CBD blood levels predicted greater emotional lability improvement.
Key Numbers
109 recruited, 53 teacher-assessed. Significant improvement (p<0.001): anxiety-shyness, perfectionism, ADHD index, emotional lability, hyperactivity-impulsivity. Near-significant: oppositional behavior (p=.009), cognitive inattention (p=.009), hyperactivity (p=.006). Higher CBD blood levels predicted emotional lability improvement.
How They Did This
Prospective, single-arm, open-label study at one center. 109 children/young adults with ASD and ADHD symptoms recruited (2019-2021); 53 assessed by teachers using the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale before and after 3-6 months of CBD-rich cannabis oil. Blood samples measured cannabinoid levels.
Why This Research Matters
Children with autism who also have ADHD symptoms often don't respond well to standard medications. This is the first study to use teacher assessments (more objective than parent reports) and found significant improvements across multiple behavioral domains.
The Bigger Picture
Autism with ADHD features is a common combination that challenges conventional treatment. CBD's apparent broad-spectrum behavioral improvement — without the side effects common to stimulant medications — makes it an intriguing candidate, though rigorous controlled trials are essential.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Open-label design (no placebo control — improvements could be placebo effect or natural development). Single center. Nearly half of recruited participants lacked teacher assessments. No control group. Cannabinoid dose-response was mostly non-significant.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would these improvements hold up in a placebo-controlled trial?
- ?What is the optimal CBD dose for ADHD symptoms in autism?
- ?Do improvements persist long-term or require ongoing treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Open-label study without placebo control — results are promising but cannot distinguish treatment effects from placebo or natural development.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, using data collected 2019-2021, addressing a growing area of parental and clinical interest.
- Original Title:
- CBD-Rich Cannabis Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder May Improve Symptoms of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit: An Open-Label Study.
- Published In:
- Current neuropharmacology (2026)
- Authors:
- Dana, Barchel, Elkana, Kohn, Ariela, Hazan, Matitiahu, Berkovitch, Ilia, Babarashvili, Eli, Heyman, Inbar, Hartmann, Mirit, Lezinger, Danel, Waissengreen, David, Meiri, Liron, Sulimani, Orit, Stolar
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08201
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBD help with ADHD symptoms in autistic children?
This study found significant teacher-reported improvements in hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety, and emotional regulation with CBD oil. However, without a placebo control, we can't confirm CBD caused the improvements — controlled trials are needed.
Is CBD safe for children with autism?
This study didn't report significant safety concerns, and the treatment was administered over 3-6 months. However, open-label studies aren't designed to thoroughly assess safety, and parents should work with healthcare providers for any cannabinoid treatments.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08201APA
Dana, Barchel; Elkana, Kohn; Ariela, Hazan; Matitiahu, Berkovitch; Ilia, Babarashvili; Eli, Heyman; Inbar, Hartmann; Mirit, Lezinger; Danel, Waissengreen; David, Meiri; Liron, Sulimani; Orit, Stolar. (2026). CBD-Rich Cannabis Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder May Improve Symptoms of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit: An Open-Label Study.. Current neuropharmacology. https://doi.org/10.2174/011570159X390368251014072051
MLA
Dana, Barchel, et al. "CBD-Rich Cannabis Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder May Improve Symptoms of Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit: An Open-Label Study.." Current neuropharmacology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.2174/011570159X390368251014072051
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "CBD-Rich Cannabis Therapy in Children with Autism Spectrum D..." RTHC-08201. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/dana-2026-cbdrich-cannabis-therapy-in
Access the Original Study
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.