Systematic review finds limited evidence for CBD as an antipsychotic, but a favorable side effect profile
A systematic review of 8 studies involving 210 participants found limited evidence that CBD has antipsychotic effects and no evidence that it improves cognition or functioning, though it was well tolerated with fewer side effects than standard antipsychotics.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBD showed limited antipsychotic efficacy across studies, with no evidence supporting cognitive or functional benefits. However, CBD had a notably advantageous side effect profile compared to standard antipsychotics and was well tolerated across all studies.
Key Numbers
8 eligible studies, 210 total participants. Observational studies had higher risk of bias than experimental studies.
How They Did This
Systematic review searching CINAHL, EBM, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed from 1970 to 2019 for experimental and observational studies evaluating CBD's antipsychotic and cognitive properties in people with psychotic disorders.
Why This Research Matters
Current antipsychotics often have significant side effects that reduce adherence. If CBD could serve as an adjunctive treatment with fewer side effects, it might improve tolerability even if its direct antipsychotic effects are modest.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between CBD's favorable safety profile and its limited demonstrated efficacy highlights the need for larger, better-designed trials before CBD can be recommended as a psychosis treatment.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small total sample across studies. Heterogeneous study designs, dosing, and participant criteria make comparison difficult. Risk of bias was higher in observational studies.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would higher CBD doses or longer treatment durations show stronger antipsychotic effects?
- ?Is CBD more useful as an adjunct to existing antipsychotics rather than a standalone treatment?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 8 studies, 210 participants: limited efficacy but favorable safety
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: systematic review methodology, but limited by small total sample and heterogeneous included studies.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2020 in Psychiatry Research.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis among patients with schizophrenia and other primary psychotic disorders: A systematic review with a risk of bias assessment.
- Published In:
- Psychiatry research, 286, 112890 (2020)
- Authors:
- Ghabrash, Maykel Farag, Coronado-Montoya, Stephanie(2), Aoun, John, Gagné, Andrée-Anne, Mansour, Flavi, Ouellet-Plamondon, Clairélaine, Trépanier, Annie, Jutras-Aswad, Didier
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02569
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can CBD replace antipsychotic medications?
Based on current evidence, no. The review found limited evidence for antipsychotic efficacy. CBD's main advantage was fewer side effects, which might make it useful as an add-on treatment rather than a replacement.
Why were results so variable across studies?
Studies differed in CBD dosing, treatment duration, whether CBD was used alone or added to existing medications, and which patients were included. These differences make it hard to draw firm conclusions.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02569APA
Ghabrash, Maykel Farag; Coronado-Montoya, Stephanie; Aoun, John; Gagné, Andrée-Anne; Mansour, Flavi; Ouellet-Plamondon, Clairélaine; Trépanier, Annie; Jutras-Aswad, Didier. (2020). Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis among patients with schizophrenia and other primary psychotic disorders: A systematic review with a risk of bias assessment.. Psychiatry research, 286, 112890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112890
MLA
Ghabrash, Maykel Farag, et al. "Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis among patients with schizophrenia and other primary psychotic disorders: A systematic review with a risk of bias assessment.." Psychiatry research, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112890
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis among patients wi..." RTHC-02569. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/ghabrash-2020-cannabidiol-for-the-treatment
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.