CBD-rich cannabis did not improve sleep better than placebo in children with autism
In a placebo-controlled trial of 150 children with autism, CBD-rich cannabinoid treatment was not superior to placebo for any sleep measure.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CBD-rich cannabinoid treatment (20:1 CBD:THC ratio) was not superior to placebo for sleep in 150 children and adolescents with autism, including bedtime resistance, sleep-onset delay, and sleep duration.
Key Numbers
150 participants randomized across three arms. 12-week treatment periods with 4-week washout. CBD:THC ratio was 20:1. No significant differences from placebo on any CSHQ sleep measure.
How They Did This
Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 150 children/adolescents with ASD. Three arms: whole-plant cannabis extract (20:1 CBD:THC), purified CBD/THC in same ratio, or placebo. Each treatment period lasted 12 weeks with 4-week washout. Sleep assessed via the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire.
Why This Research Matters
Despite widespread anecdotal claims that cannabis products help autistic children sleep, this rigorous trial found no benefit over placebo, providing important data for families and clinicians making treatment decisions.
The Bigger Picture
This is one of the few placebo-controlled trials of cannabinoids for sleep in autism. The negative result challenges popular assumptions and underscores the importance of controlled trials over anecdotal reports.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Sleep was measured by parent questionnaire rather than objective measures like actigraphy or polysomnography. The CBD:THC ratio was fixed at 20:1, so other ratios might yield different results. The crossover design may introduce period effects.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would different CBD:THC ratios be more effective for sleep?
- ?Could objective sleep measures reveal effects that parent reports miss?
- ?Did the placebo effect account for the improvements seen in both groups?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No sleep benefit over placebo in any measure
- Evidence Grade:
- Strong: large, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover RCT with standardized assessment.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Cannabinoid Treatment for Disruptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Sleep Parameters as Measured by the CSHQ.
- Published In:
- Biomedicines, 10(7) (2022)
- Authors:
- Schnapp, Aviad(2), Harel, Moria(2), Cayam-Rand, Dalit(2), Cassuto, Hanoch, Polyansky, Lola, Aran, Adi
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04201
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did sleep improve at all during the study?
Yes, sleep scores improved in both the cannabinoid and placebo groups, but the cannabinoid groups were not statistically better than placebo.
Was there any connection between sleep and behavior?
Yes. Regardless of whether participants received cannabinoids or placebo, improvements in sleep were associated with improvements in autistic core symptoms as measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale.
What forms of cannabinoid were tested?
Two forms were compared: a whole-plant cannabis extract and a purified CBD/THC extract, both at a 20:1 CBD:THC ratio. Neither outperformed placebo for sleep.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04201APA
Schnapp, Aviad; Harel, Moria; Cayam-Rand, Dalit; Cassuto, Hanoch; Polyansky, Lola; Aran, Adi. (2022). A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Cannabinoid Treatment for Disruptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Sleep Parameters as Measured by the CSHQ.. Biomedicines, 10(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10071685
MLA
Schnapp, Aviad, et al. "A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Cannabinoid Treatment for Disruptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Effects on Sleep Parameters as Measured by the CSHQ.." Biomedicines, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10071685
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Cannabinoid Treatment for Disr..." RTHC-04201. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/schnapp-2022-a-placebocontrolled-trial-of
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.