Cannabis treatment causes 'amazing change' in young people with severe anxiety, study finds

Researchers saw an almost 50 per cent reduction in anxiety symptoms in those who used CBD oil, Furvah Shah reports

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD oil, is reportedly non-addictive and non-intoxicating (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cannabis treatments can help in reducing severe anxiety in young people, according to a new study.

Researchers at Orygen Youth Health, in Australia, found young people with treatment-resistant anxiety saw a 42 per cent reduction in severity and impairment after using Cannabidiol for 12 weeks – also known as CBD oil.

Orygen’s Professor Paul Amminger, who led the study, said: “The young people had fewer panic attacks and could do things which they were previously unable to do like leave the house, go to school, participate in social situations, eat at restaurants, take public transport or attend appointments by themselves.

“That’s an amazing change in the group which has had treatment-resistant, long-standing severe to very severe anxiety.”

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition amongst young people and affects up to 31 per cent of the Australian population alone.

Treatments for anxiety include CBT and serotonin-inducing medications but they do not work for everyone, with only around 50 per cent of young people fully recovering from anxiety disorders with current treatments.

In previous studies, Cannabidiol has been found to reduce anxiety and is reportedly non-intoxicating and non-addictive.

For the study, 31 participants aged between 12 to 25 who displayed little improvement after anxiety treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were given doses of Cannabidiol to see if their symptoms improved. 

Doses began at one 200mg capsule of Cannabidiol per day, which was increased to 400mg after one week. For those who showed little improvement in anxiety symptoms, their dosage was increased at 200mg increments up to 800mg per day.

The reduction of anxiety symptoms was observed on two different scales and involved participants filling in a questionnaire about symptoms like panic attacks, situational anxieties, worries and flashbacks.

“Our pilot study found that cannabidiol not only helped to reduce anxiety symptoms but it was also very well tolerated – the most common side-effects were mild sedation and mild fatigue but that was at the time when doses were increased and usually went away after a couple of days,” Professor Amminger said.

“We did not see side-effects like suicidal thoughts, irritability or sleep problems, which are not uncommon in people taking SSRIs.”

Researchers say although their findings are promising, further studies are required.

“The next step is a randomised controlled trial, which is the gold standard to test a new intervention,” said Professor Amminger.

“Such a trial needs to be done in a much larger group – around 200 to 250 young people – to enable us to say with some certainty that there is, or is not, real treatment benefits and effects.”