This article discusses a scientific study conducted by Lívia Maria Bolsoni, José Alexandre S. Crippa, Jaime Eduardo Cecílio Hallak, Francisco Silveira Guimarães, and Antonio Waldo Zuardi from the Department of Neuroscience and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil. The study investigates the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on symptoms induced by the recall of traumatic events in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can read the full study here.
Key Findings
- The study found that CBD significantly reduced cognitive impairments during trauma recall.
- No significant differences were observed between the effects of CBD and placebo on anxiety, alertness, and discomfort induced by the recall of the traumatic event.
- There were no significant differences between the CBD and placebo groups regarding physiological data such as blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol.
Methodology
The study was a double-blind trial involving 33 participants of both sexes, aged between 18 and 60 years, diagnosed with PTSD. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups treated with CBD (n = 17) and placebo (n = 16). The research was conducted over a period of two weeks.
Data was collected through a behavioral test where participants listened to a recording of their traumas and then imagined the trauma for 30 seconds. Subjective changes in mood and anxiety were recorded before and after the behavioral test. Physiological correlates of anxiety such as blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary cortisol were also recorded.
The participants received a dose of 300 mg of CBD or a placebo. This was done 7 days after the first experimental session and the behavioral test was performed again. The same procedures were repeated 7 days later, but without the pharmacological intervention, to assess the effect on reconsolidation of traumatic memories.
Potential Implications
The findings suggest that CBD could potentially be used as a treatment to reduce cognitive impairments in PTSD patients during trauma recall. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD for PTSD.
Limitations
The study was limited by its small sample size and the short duration of the trial. Additionally, the study did not find significant effects of CBD on anxiety, alertness, and discomfort during trauma recall, which are key symptoms of PTSD.
Conclusion
While the study provides some evidence that CBD may help reduce cognitive impairments during trauma recall in PTSD patients, more research is needed to fully understand the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD for PTSD.
