Anxiety Symptoms in Relation to Use of Hemp-derived, Full Spectrum Cannabidiol (CBD)

Anxiety Symptoms in Relation to Use of Hemp-Derived, Full Spectrum Cannabidiol (CBD): a Cohort Study

Generalized anxiety disorder affects about 6.8 million adults in the United States, therefore its treatment is of major public health interest. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promise as an effective treatment for anxiety-related symptoms while lacking the severity of adverse effects seen with other medications. Given the wide availability of products containing CBD on the market today, from tinctures to coffee additives, and the undetermined potential for drug-to-drug interactions, medical supervision of CBD intake and formulation-specific clinical research is necessary. Therefore this study aimed to observe the effects of a specific hemp-derived full spectrum CBD formula on anxiety-related symptoms in a group of volunteers. The investigators will examine the self-reported anxiety symptoms in relation to use of a specific CBD formulation (25mg solvent-free full spectrum CBD capsules) in a cohort of adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. This open-label, cohort study will be conducted at six clinic sites in the United States (including Puerto Rico) from June 2020 through October 2020. The six physicians recruited to participate in the study were each actively prescribing CBD in their practices and were actively caring for patients with anxiety symptoms. Anxiety levels will be measured in enrolled participants diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder each week for a period of eight weeks using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale (GAD7). Participants will also be instructed to take a daily 25mg capsule of CBD. The investigators hypothesize that this formula, when carefully developed and administered by a healthcare professional, will significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 21 and 85 years old.
• Research participants of both sexes.
• Good health conditions and without conditions that characterize them as belonging to the risk groups associated with adverse reactions to the product ingredients.
• Research participants with the potential to become pregnant may be included in the study as long as they are sexually abstinent or using a contraceptive method considered effective.
• Signature of the Free and Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Initiation of or changes in use of medication or therapies in the past 2 weeks of start of study.
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• History of hepatic compromise with transaminases of 2 times the upper limit of normal or cirrhosis.
• Diagnosis of Bi-Polar disorder, Schizophrenia or Suicidal Ideation.
• Current use of recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, or other CBD formulations.
• History of any substance or alcohol abuse.
• Current use of High Dose or Extended-Release Narcotics.
• Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea.