Investigating the Effects of Cannabidiol on Social Anxiety Disorder
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test whether a single-dose of Epidiolex (cannabidiol) is associated with reduced psychological, physiological, and neuroimaging measures of anxiety in people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Description
Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study design, this scientific investigation will examine the effect of 3 milliliters (mL) of Epidiolex (100mg cannabidiol/mL) on behavioral, physiological, and neuroimaging measures of anxiety in subjects diagnosed with SAD. The study will enroll 50 subjects with SAD who will be randomized in a double-blind manner to receive either Epidiolex or placebo before experiencing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), the gold-standard for ethically inducing stress in a controlled laboratory setting. Following the TSST, neuroimaging me…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent. * Sufficiently fluent in English to participate in the trial. * Between 18-55 years of age (inclusive). * Right-hand dominant. * Current medications are stable for past 30 days (no changes to dose or frequency). * Negative result on pregnancy test (if female). * Negative result on urine drug screening. * Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS ≥ 60). Exclusion Criteria: * History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, delusional disorders. * History of eating disorder within past 6 months. * History of a…
Interventions
- DrugCannabidiol
Participants randomized to the cannabidiol arm will receive 3mL of Epidiolex (100mg cannabidiol/mL) in a single-dose.
- DrugPlacebo
Participants randomized to the placebo arm will receive 3mL of placebo (sesame seed oil) in a single dose.
Location
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, Massachusetts