Case Study: How CBD Affects Anxiety and Sleep
Summary:
The buzz about CBD has an increasing amount of hard data to back it up. Check out this recent case study on how patients were helped with anxiety and sleep problems by as much as 57%. At Hemp Labs of America, we believe in helping people, and if you want to start a sustainable business that’s built on a scientifically proven product, we’re here to help from start to finish.
About
A non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis. After tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) is the second-most abundant cannabinoid in the plant and has many potential therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-anxiety, and seizure-suppressant properties. CBD can be sourced from both marijuana plants and hemp plants, which are legal in most countries as they contain minuscule amounts of THC.
Challenge
To determine whether or not CBD decreases sleep or anxiety.
Design
Monthly documentation of anxiety and sleep quality in 98 people.
Results
Anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 56 subjects (57.14%) and remained decreased during the study duration. Sleep scores improved within the first month in 46 subjects (46.95%).
Conclusion
CBD decreased anxiety and/or sleep in over half the subjects.
Methods
Nearly all subjects were given CBD 25 mg/d in capsule form. If anxiety complaints predominated, the dosing was every morning, after breakfast. If sleep complaints predominated, the dosing was every evening, after dinner. A handful of subjects were given CBD 50 mg per dosage or 75 mg per dosage.
Main Outcome Measures
Sleep and anxiety were the targets of this descriptive report. Sleep concerns were tracked at monthly visits using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Anxiety levels were monitored at monthly visits using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. Both scales are nonproprietary. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale is a widely used and validated anxiety measure with 14 individual questions.
Results
The average age for subjects with anxiety was 31 years (range = 18–70 years) and age 34.2years for subjects with sleep disorders (range = 18–72 years). Most subjects with an anxiety diagnosis were men whereas more sleep-disordered subjects were women. All subjects completed sleep and anxiety assessments at the onset of CBD treatment and at the first monthly follow-up.
Mean anxiety and sleep scores for adults using cannabidiol treatment.
HAM-A = Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale; PSQI = Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index.
| Descriptive Statistics For Anxiety And Sleep Scores Among Adults Using CBD | ||||
| Parameter | HAM-A, Mean | PSQI, mean | Anxiety (n=47) | |
| Baseline | 23.87 (9.87) | 10.98 (3.43) | ||
| 1-month | 18.02 (7.56) | 8.88 (3.68) | ||
| 2-month | 16.35 (8.80) | 8.59 (2.91) | ||
| 3-month | 16.36 (9.80) | 9.25 (2.46) | ||
| Parameter | HAM-A, Mean | PSQI, mean | Sleep Disorder (n=25) | |
| Baseline | 22.18 (7.55) | 13.08 (3.03) | ||
| 1-month | 17.82 (9.72) | 10.64 (3.89) | ||
| 2-month | 17.36 (10.91) | 9.39 (3.81) | ||
| 3-month | 13.78 (7.86) | 9.33 (4.63) | ||
Descriptive statistics for anxiety and sleep scores among adults using cannabidiol treatment.
These results demonstrated a more sustained response to anxiety than for sleep time. Patient records displayed a larger decrease in anxiety scores than in sleep scores. The sleep scores demonstrated mild improvement. The anxiety scores decreased within the first month and then remained decreased during the study duration.
Anxiety scores decreased fairly rapidly, and this decrease was sustained during the study period. These results are consistent with the existing preclinical and clinical data on CBD. CBD was well accepted and well tolerated in our subjects. Side effects were minimal (mainly fatigue) and may be related to dosing.