Study register / Psychiatry / Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

1 curated study · 1 key study · mechoulam.de

Research on obsessive-compulsive disorder is still at a very early stage. A small controlled laboratory study found a reduction in symptoms, though this occurred equally under placebo. An independent benefit of cannabinoids has not yet been demonstrated.

Rating scheme

The letter rates the quality of a study, independently of its type. Every study type can receive any grade: a review can be B or C when it is small or weak, and an RCT can be S. The grade is a synthesis of study design, journal authority and clinical bindingness:

S
Highest evidence, large, methodologically first-rate studies or S3 guidelines
A
Strong evidence, solid, meaningful studies with a clear result
B
Moderate evidence, smaller or methodologically limited studies
C
Weak evidence, preliminary, indirect or contradictory findings
D
Lowest evidence, exploratory hints, single cases or expert opinion

Quality profile per study

To the left of each study there is a profile of four features, it shows the differences within a letter class.

Sample size ★
Number of participants (RCT) or included studies (review).
Blinding
Double-blind, single-blind or open-label.
Effect size
Clear benefit, mixed, no benefit or harm.
Citations / year ★
Age-adjusted citation frequency.

Key studies

1
  1. 01
    B
    Acute effects of cannabinoids on symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A human laboratory study
    Kayser et al. ·2020 ·Depression and Anxiety
    Read

Randomised Controlled Trials

Efficacy and safety evidence from controlled interventional trials.

1
B
Sample size ★★★★★
Blinding Double-blind
Effect size No benefit
Citations / year ★★★★★
● Key study
Kayser et al. ·2020 ·Depression and Anxiety
78 citations

Acute effects of cannabinoids on symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder: A human laboratory study

Design
RCT (crossover, within-subjects)
Sample
n = 12 Pat.
Key finding

Smoked cannabis (THC or CBD) had no significant acute effect on OCD symptoms and led to less anxiety reduction than placebo.

Summary

n=12 adults with OCD and prior cannabis experience, randomized placebo-controlled within-subjects study over 3 sessions (placebo 0% THC/CBD vs. THC 7,0%/0,18% CBD vs. CBD 0,4% THC/10,4% CBD). OCD symptoms and state anxiety decreased over time in all 3 conditions. OCD symptoms did NOT vary as a function of the cannabis variety; state anxiety was significantly lower immediately after placebo than after THC or CBD. Conclusion: smoked cannabis (THC or CBD) has little acute influence on OCD symptoms and leads to smaller anxiety reductions compared with placebo.

DOI 10.1002/da.23032 ↗