Safety and Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Symptoms of PTSD in Adults

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA · Mar 4, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the safety and effectiveness of a product called Cannabidiol (CBD) for treating symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults. Over the course of this study, participants will take either CBD or a placebo (a non-active substance) for eight weeks. They will first spend three weeks gathering baseline data on their activity and sleep patterns. The trial aims to see if CBD can help reduce PTSD symptoms and will involve various assessments, including symptom checklists and lab tests.

To be eligible for the trial, participants must be between 21 and 65 years old, have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and be able to communicate in English. They should not have used CBD products frequently or have any severe mental health issues. Participants will be closely monitored throughout the study, and those who consent may also take part in driving assessments and brain scans. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, it’s a great opportunity to contribute to understanding how CBD might help those struggling with PTSD.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• All Subjects:
• • 1. Ability and willingness to provide informed consent
• • 2. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
• • 3. Male or female, aged 21-65
• • 4. Able to read and communicate in English.
• • 5. THC use must be less than 3 days per week
• Subjects who consent to driving procedures:
• • 1. Legally licensed and experienced drivers (\>3 years driving experience), including a corrected or uncorrected visual acuity of \<20/50 OU (to meet state driving requirements for vision).
• • 2. Active drivers (≥1hr or 25 miles driving per week). Driving a single car at least 90% of driving time (to permit installation of study driving equipment) and have car insurance for the vehicle used in the study.
• • PTSD Subjects
• • 1. Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a current diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on the MINI, with symptoms present for at least 1 month.
• • 2. Clinician administered CAPS-5 score ≥27 at study induction and start of CBD observation.
• • 3. Stable psychopharmacologic and/or psychotherapeutic intervention for 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• All Subjects:
• • 1. Current use of prescribed or commercially available CBD products, including Epidiolex®.
• • 2. Suicidal ideation (as defined by answer of "yes" to item 4 or 5 on the baseline Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) or attempt in the 6 months prior to enrollment.
• • 3. Cognitive impairment in the clinical judgment of the investigator that would impact ability to complete study assessments or confound study results (e.g., neurodegenerative condition or other).
• • 4. Meets criteria for substance or alcohol use disorder of moderate or greater severity in the 6 months prior to study entry based on the MINI. Nicotine dependence is permitted.
• • 5. Self-reported cannabis use on \> 3 days/week starting 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• • 6. Positive urine drug screen for illicit substances other than cannabis.
• • 7. Pregnant, measured by serum hCG test, or breastfeeding.
• • 8. Co-morbid medical conditions or concomitant treatments that may adversely impact ability to participate in the trial in the clinical judgment of the investigator. E.g., significant immunosuppression due to active chemotherapy, recent organ transplant, uncontrolled diabetes, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 25ml/min or on dialysis, recent acute myocardial infarction (MI), Class IV heart failure, or taking any high-risk drugs for drug-drug interactions (see Appendix A).
• • 9. Treatment with another investigational drug or other intervention within the 3 months prior to enrollment.
• • 10. History of psychosis (schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or substance induced psychosis), active bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder diagnosed by a mental health professional.
• • 11. History of open head injury
• • 12. Self-report of exposure to trauma in the 30 days prior to enrollment.
• • 13. Active military service in the 30 days prior to enrollment.
• • 14. Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization within 6 months prior to enrollment.
• • 15. Seizure in the last 6 months.
• • 16. Use of concomitant anti-viral HIV medications (PrEP is permitted).
• Control Subjects:
• • 1. No history of diagnosed PTSD.
• • 2. Pregnant, measured by self-report, or breastfeeding
• Subjects who consent to fMRI procedures:
• • 1. Claustrophobia, pregnancy, or any condition (e.g., significant hearing difficulties) that would preclude MRI scanning in the clinical judgment of the investigator.
• • 2. Presence of metal objects in or on the body such as pacemakers, aneurysm clips, metallic prostheses, bone plates, braces, orthodontic devices, cochlear implants/hearing aids, non-removable piercings/implants or metallic-ink tattoos, or shrapnel fragments.
• • 3. Other confounding medical conditions (e.g., Tourette's or Tic Disorder) that would preclude MRI scanning in the clinical judgement of the investigator.
• PTSD Subjects:
• • 17. Index trauma before age 18 and no other traumatic experiences which could relate/identify as part of PTSD.
• • 18. Any history of allergic reaction or significant AEs related to cannabis, CBD, or THC.
• • 19. Currently involved in events giving rise to the disease. 20. Alanine transaminase (ALT)/Aspartate transaminase (AST)/Bilirubin \> 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening. Abnormalities on the comprehensive metabolic panel or complete blood count which are deemed to be of clinical significance in the judgement of the investigator and clinical team will be evaluated in the clinical context of the subject's history and physical examination to determine eligibility. Testing may be repeated if clinically appropriate at the discretion of the investigator.
• • 21. For subjects of who can become pregnant, refusal to use at least one form of birth control throughout study participation. Forms of birth control may include, but are not limited to, condoms (male or female) with or without spermicide, diaphragm, or cervical cap with or without spermicide, abstinence, or hormonal or implanted birth control (e.g., pill, injection, intra-uterine device \[IUD\], implant).