Systematic review finds limited but promising evidence for CBD in psychiatric disorders
A systematic review of 13 studies found some evidence that CBD may help with cannabis withdrawal, addiction, psychosis, and social anxiety, but most studies were small and underpowered.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Evidence levels varied: B-level for cannabis withdrawal, C2 for cannabis addiction, C1 for positive symptoms in schizophrenia and anxiety in social anxiety disorder. No evidence was found for depression or bipolar disorder. Side effects were generally mild (sedation, dizziness).
Key Numbers
692 records screened, 13 studies included (6 case reports, 7 trials), 201 total subjects. Evidence graded B for cannabis withdrawal, C1 for schizophrenia positive symptoms and social anxiety, C2 for cannabis addiction.
How They Did This
Systematic review searching PubMed, Scielo, and ClinicalTrials.gov, classifying evidence according to WFSBP task force standards. Included 6 case reports and 7 trials covering 201 subjects.
Why This Research Matters
CBD is widely marketed for psychiatric conditions despite limited clinical evidence. This review provides a structured assessment of what the science actually supports.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between CBD's commercial popularity for mental health and the actual clinical evidence is substantial. While the existing data points in a promising direction, the field needs much larger trials to draw firm conclusions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Most included studies were small and did not reach statistical significance. Only 201 total subjects across all studies. No evidence found for depression or bipolar disorder. Publication bias possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?What doses of CBD are most effective for specific psychiatric conditions?
- ?Why is there a complete absence of data on CBD for depression despite widespread consumer use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 201 total subjects across 13 studies
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: systematic review methodology, but constrained by small and underpowered included studies.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Is there a role for cannabidiol in psychiatry?
- Published In:
- The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 20(2), 101-116 (2019)
- Authors:
- Khoury, Julia Machado, Neves, Maila de Castro Lourenço das, Roque, Marco Antônio Valente, Queiroz, Daniela Alves de Brito, Corrêa de Freitas, André Augusto, de Fátima, Ângelo, Moreira, Fabrício A, Garcia, Frederico Duarte
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02106
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does CBD help with depression?
This review found no clinical evidence for CBD in depression or bipolar disorder, despite its popularity for these conditions.
What are the side effects of CBD for psychiatric use?
The most commonly reported side effects were sedation and dizziness, generally described as mild.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02106APA
Khoury, Julia Machado; Neves, Maila de Castro Lourenço das; Roque, Marco Antônio Valente; Queiroz, Daniela Alves de Brito; Corrêa de Freitas, André Augusto; de Fátima, Ângelo; Moreira, Fabrício A; Garcia, Frederico Duarte. (2019). Is there a role for cannabidiol in psychiatry?. The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 20(2), 101-116. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2017.1285049
MLA
Khoury, Julia Machado, et al. "Is there a role for cannabidiol in psychiatry?." The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2017.1285049
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Is there a role for cannabidiol in psychiatry?" RTHC-02106. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/khoury-2019-is-there-a-role
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.