Adjunctive CB1 Agonist Nabilone in Inpatients With Active Suicidal Ideation

A Randomized-Controlled Trial With the Adjunctive CB1 Agonist Nabilone in Inpatients With Active Suicidal Ideation

Suicide is a major crisis worldwide with rates projected to continue to increase. There is currently a dearth of novel pharmacologic treatment options for suicide available on the market. The endocannabinoid system has been recently shown to be associated with mood disorders including suicidality. The aim of the study is to determine whether treatment with Nabilone is capable of reducing suicidal ideation in adults after 3 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to provide written informed consent
• Current suicidal ideation
• Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) score of ≥ 4 and Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI) first 5 items, score of ≥4
• Current major depressive episode as evidenced by MADRS score ≥ 20

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current diagnosis of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (DSM-V) psychotic disorder, psychotic symptoms, or personality disorder.
• Recent (<72 hrs) use of illicit substances
• Comorbid substance use disorder diagnosis
• Urine drug screen (UDS) positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
• Pregnant or nursing women
• Unstable medical condition