Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Key Finding
CBD shows significant anxiolytic effects across multiple anxiety disorders in both animal and human studies.
Plain-English Summary
This systematic review examined preclinical and human studies investigating cannabidiol (CBD) for anxiety disorders. The review included animal models of anxiety and human experimental and clinical studies.
Evidence from multiple studies demonstrated that CBD has considerable anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects in both animal models and human studies. In human experiments, CBD reduced anxiety in simulated public speaking tests and social anxiety situations. Effects were observed at doses ranging from 300-600mg.
CBD appears to work through multiple mechanisms, including interaction with serotonin receptors, enhancement of endocannabinoid signaling, and potential neurogenesis effects. The review found preliminary evidence supporting CBD for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. CBD demonstrated an excellent safety profile with minimal side effects. However, more large-scale clinical trials are needed.