CBD improved depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in an adolescent who failed antidepressants
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case. No control. Multiple changes occurred simultaneously (stopping antidepressant, starting CBD). Cannot attribute improvements to CBD alone. Short follow-up period.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Patient quit 4 illegal drugs without withdrawal while on CBD
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report. Compelling but cannot establish that CBD caused the improvements.
- Study Age:
- 2021 case report from Austria.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol treatment in an adolescent with multiple substance abuse, social anxiety and depression.
- Published In:
- Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation : Organ der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte und Psychiater, 35(1), 31-34 (2021)
- Authors:
- Laczkovics, Clarissa, Kothgassner, Oswald D(2), Felnhofer, Anna(2), Klier, Claudia M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03268
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03268APA
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
MLA
Laczkovics, Clarissa, et al. "Cannabidiol treatment in an adolescent with multiple substance abuse, social anxiety and depression.." Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40211-020-00334-0
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol treatment in an adolescent with multiple substan..." RTHC-03268. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/laczkovics-2021-cannabidiol-treatment-in-an
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.