←Anxiety Disorders
Study register · detail RCT (cross-over) · Anxiety Disorders · 1982

Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by ?9-THC in normal subjects

Zuardi et al. ·Psychopharmacology Impact 2.8
Clear benefit GRADE Moderate 603 citations
Samplen = 8 Pat.
Durationunclear
ControlPlacebo and diazepam 10 mg
EndpointAnxiety
Blindingdoppelblind
DesignRCT (cross-over)
Cannabinoidkombination
THC:CBD1:2
Routeinhalativ
Key finding

CBD blocks the anxiety provoked by Δ9-THC as well as cannabis-like effects and other subjective changes caused by Δ9-THC.

Summary

Small crossover RCT (n=8 healthy volunteers) on CBD vs. THC-induced anxiety; CBD 1 mg/kg blocked THC-induced anxiety (measured with anxiety scales), but also showed antagonism against other THC effects. Diazepam 10 mg as positive control. CBD showed independent effects opposite to THC.

P
PopulationHealthy volunteers, n=8
I
InterventionCBD 1 mg/kg i.v., Δ9-THC 0,5 mg/kg i.v., CBD+THC combination (1 mg/kg + 0,5 mg/kg), diazepam 10 mg as control
C
ControlPlacebo and diazepam 10 mg
O
OutcomeCBD blocked the anxiety induced by Δ9-THC as well as other subjective Δ9-THC effects; no influence on pulse rate
Confidence in the evidence
Moderate

The third of four GRADE levels, the effect estimate is probably reliable.

Downgraded for
Imprecision
Quality profile
Sample size ★★★★★
Blinding Double-blind
Effect size Clear benefit
Citations / year ★★★★★
Authors
Zuardi A W, Shirakawa I, Finkelfarb E et al.
DOI 10.1007/bf00432554↗
Design: RCT (cross-over)
Share
Abstract
The object of the experiment was to verify whether cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the anxiety provoked by delta 9-THC in normal volunteers, and whether this effect occurs by a general block of the action of delta 9-THC or by a specific anxiolytic effect. Appropriate measurements and scales were utilized and the eight volunteers received, the following treatments in a double-blind procedure: 0.5 mg/kg delta 9-THC, 1 mg/kg CBD, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/kg delta 9-THC and 1 mg/kg CBD and placebo and diazepam (10 mg) as controls. Each volunteer received the treatments in a different sequence. It was verified that CBD blocks the anxiety provoked by delta 9-THC, however this effect also extended to Cannabis-like effects and to other subjective alterations induced by delta 9-THC. This antagonism does not appear to be caused by a general block of delta 9-THC effects, since no change was detected in the pulse-rate measurements. Several further effects were observed typical of CBD and of an opposite nature to those of delta 9-THC. These results suggest that the effects of CBD, as opposed to those of delta 9-THC, might be involved in the antagonism of effects between the two cannabinoids.
Indication
Further studies on Anxiety Disorders
All studies →
S Whiting et al. · 2015 · JAMA
2103 citations
Cannabinoids for Medical Use
Mixed

Umfassende SR über 79 RCTs (n=6.462) zu medizinischem Cannabis; KEINE ausreichende Evidenz für Angststörungen als primäres Outcome — moderate Evidenz nur für Schmerz und MS-Spastik, Angst nur als sekundäres/exploratives Outcome in einigen Studien.

10.1001/jama.2015.6358 View study →
A Kedzior et al. · 2014 · BMC psychiatry
299 citations
A positive association between anxiety disorders and cannabis use or cannabis use disorders in the general population--a meta-analysis of 31 studies.
Clear benefit Meta-Analyse

Meta-Analyse über k=31 Studien (n≈112.000) zur Assoziation zwischen Angststörungen und Cannabis-Konsum. Kleine positive Assoziation: Angst↔Cannabis-Konsum OR=1.24 (95% CI: 1.06-1.45, p=0.006), Angst↔Cannabis Use Disorder OR=1.68 (95% CI: 1.23-2.31, p=0.001). Prospektive Subgruppe (k=5): Baseline-Cannabis-Konsum prädiziert Follow-up-Angst OR=1.28 (95% CI: 1.06-1.54, p=0.01). Adjustiert für Confounder.

10.1186/1471-244x-14-136 View study →
A Roberts et al. · 2025 · Psychiatry research
3 citations
Medicinal cannabis in the management of anxiety disorders: A systematic review.
Mixed Systematic Review

Systematische Review zu medizinischem Cannabis bei Angststörungen; k=57 Studien (40% Kohorten, 30% RCTs, 18% Querschnitt, 12% qualitative Designs). Unter den 13 hochwertigsten Studien zeigten 70% (n=9) positive Verbesserungen bei GAD, SAD und PTBS; 30% (n=4) negative Ergebnisse bei OCD, Trichotillomanie, Prüfungsangst und SAD. Über 90% aller Studien berichteten positive Outcomes für CBD- und THC-basiertes Cannabis. MASTER-Score: 62,9/100 (hohes Bias-Risiko durch unzureichendes Reporting). 53% (n=30) der Studien omittierten oder verwendeten selbstberichtete Daten zu Form/Dosierung.

10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116552 View study →

The impediment to action advances action. — Marcus Aurelius