Therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2024-09, Vol.339, p.116049, Article 116049
• Main Authors: Han, Kevin, Wang, Jia-Yu, Wang, Peng-Yun, Peng, Yue-Chu-Han
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Cannabidiol; Meta-analysis; Review; SAD
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116049

•Using meta-analysis to study the efficacy of CBD in patients with anxiety disorders.•CBD-assisted therapy improved anxiety symptoms in patients with the disorder to varying degrees.•8 articles involving 245 patients with TRD were included in the meta-analysis.•More high-quality research-based trials are needed to implement CBD-related treatments in future treatment guidelines for anxiety disorders. Cannabidiol (CBD), as one of the phytocannabinoids, has a wide range of therapeutic properties for various neuropsychiatric disorders due to central nervous system effects. These therapeutic properties demonstrated by preclinical and clinical studies encompass more than just anticonvulsant, anti-arthritic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antiemetic, antipsychotic and neuroprotective effects. It has been hypothesized that CBD holds potential in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric and anxiety disorders. Thus, PRISMA was used as a guide for our systematic review. Eight of the 1550 articles screened in June 2023 were eligible for meta-analysis. Based on the 316 participants included in these eight articles, this meta-analysis revealed a substantial significant impact of CBD on anxiety with a considerable effect size (Hedges' g = -0.92, 95% CI -1.80 to -0.04). In addition, this meta-analysis focuses on the efficacy of CBD in treating anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, caution should be exercised in interpreting our findings due to the limited size of the clinical sample, and additional trials ought to be carried out if deemed necessary.