CBD improved depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in an adolescent who failed antidepressants | Research

The takeaway

A 16-year-old with multiple substance use disorders, depression, social phobia, and personality disorder improved on all fronts after switching from antidepressants to CBD (100-600mg over 8 weeks), including quitting illegal drugs without withdrawal.

Child and adolescent psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, and families considering CBD for adolescent mental health.

Patient quit 4 illegal drugs without withdrawal while on CBD

What the researchers found

After unsuccessful antidepressant treatment, the patient received escalating CBD doses (100-600mg over 8 weeks). Depression and anxiety symptoms improved. Social phobia and symptoms of paranoia and dissociation decreased. The patient quit using cannabis (THC), MDMA, cocaine, and ecstasy without withdrawal symptoms. CBD was safe and well tolerated throughout.

Why it matters

This is described as the first report of CBD in a patient with multiple substance use disorders showing positive outcomes. The simultaneous improvement in mood, anxiety, and substance use across multiple domains is notable, even in a single case.

The numbers in context

Age 16.9. CBD dose: 100mg starting to 600mg over 8 weeks. Substances quit: cannabis (THC), MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy. No withdrawal symptoms. Improvements in depression, social phobia, paranoia, and dissociation.

How the study worked

Single case report of a 16.9-year-old patient with multiple substance use disorder (cannabis, MDMA, cocaine, ecstasy), severe depression, social phobia, and narcissistic personality disorder. CBD capsules administered after antidepressant failure.

What this study cannot tell us

Single case. No control. Multiple changes occurred simultaneously (stopping antidepressant, starting CBD). Cannot attribute improvements to CBD alone. Short follow-up period.

How to read the evidence

Single case report. Compelling but cannot establish that CBD caused the improvements.

When this study was published

2021 case report from Austria.

The bigger picture

Adolescents with comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders are among the hardest patients to treat. If CBD can address both dimensions simultaneously, it could fill an enormous treatment gap, but this is a single case requiring rigorous follow-up.

Questions still open

Would CBD show similar results in a controlled trial with this population? What was the optimal dose? How long did the improvements last? Was stopping the antidepressant or starting CBD more important?

Common questions

Can CBD help with substance addiction?

This case showed a teenager quitting multiple substances without withdrawal while taking CBD, but it is a single case. Controlled trials are needed to determine if CBD reliably helps with addiction.

Was CBD safe in this teenager?

Yes. CBD was described as safe and well tolerated at doses up to 600mg daily over 8 weeks, with no reported adverse effects.

Read the original research

Cannabidiol treatment in an adolescent with multiple substance abuse, social anxiety and depression.

Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation : Organ der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte und Psychiater, 35(1), 31-34

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Laczkovics, Clarissa; Kothgassner, Oswald D; Felnhofer, Anna; Klier, Claudia M. (2021). Cannabidiol treatment in an adolescent with multiple substance abuse, social anxiety and depression.. Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation : Organ der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte und Psychiater, 35(1), 31-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-020-00334-0