Treatment of social anxiety disorder and attenuated psychotic symptoms with cannabidiol. Issue 10 (7th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berger, Maximus; Li, Emily; Amminger, Günter Paul
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 13:Issue 10(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-07
• Subjects: anxiety disorders (including OCD and PTSD) -- psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia) -- psychiatry (drugs and medicines); Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-235307
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Anxiety disorders in young people are frequently comorbid with other mental disorders and respond unsatisfactorily to first-line treatment in many cases. Here, we report the case of a 20-year-old man with severe social anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, insomnia and attenuated psychotic symptoms despite ongoing treatment with cognitive behavioural therapy and mirtazapine who was treated with adjunctive cannabidiol (CBD) in doses between 200 and 800 mg/day for 6 months. During treatment with CBD, he experienced subjective benefits to his anxiety, depression and positive symptoms during treatment that were confirmed by clinicians and by standardised research instruments. Findings from this case study add to existing evidence in support of the safety of CBD and suggest that it may be useful for young people with treatment refractory anxiety and for attenuated psychotic symptoms.