The Altrecht Academic Anxiety Center has launched a study into the effectiveness of the use of cannabidiol in treating patients with phobias such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder.
Phobias such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder represent a substantial and serious health problem, with an estimated to occur in the population of 15%. The first choice treatment for phobias consists of cognitive behavioral therapy, sometimes combined with antidepressants. In this study we focus on testing the effectiveness of the addition of cannabidiol in the cognitive behavior therapy in the group of patients who refurbishing insufficient despite these relatively effective forms of treatment.
From recent research we have evidence that we can promote with such “Augmentation” strategy the extinction of fear, especially in situations that lead patients to much fear and avoidance (eg patients with fear to walk the streets alone). The hypothesis is that we play the difficult steps in the treatment process whereby patients must facilitate break their avoidance and accelerate.
Cannabidiol leads to a better treatment effect
The first goal of the research is to find out to what extent the addition of cannabidiol to exposure therapy leads to better and faster treatment effect.
What is CDB?
What is CBD Also known as Cannabidiol is a natural substance found in the brains in small quantities and is involved in nerve impulse between neurons. It is a substance from an entirely different group of messengers than the substances in the now commonly used anti-anxiety drugs (serotonin, dopamine, etc). In order to test this material to be able to test a scientifically sound manner it is necessary to cannabidiol double-blind in a group of phobic patients. That means that will be drawn in any patient or they get exposure therapy with or without cannabidiol.
Which patients benefit most from new treatment?
The second purpose of the study is to find out who benefit most from this new treatment. We will also study using experimental tasks how patients generally coping with fear stimuli. Finally, we will study whether certain genetic profiles of patients with associated chronic pain treatment success. Animal studies and studies in those without social anxiety disorder (Heitland and others Transl Psychiatry, 2012) has shown that the cannabinoid system plays a crucial role in the uitdovingsproces fear. The proposed new treatment focuses on the influence of this system. Our ultimate goal is using these search characteristics to individual patient eventually be able to find profiles that characterize people who can benefit most from this therapy. And that can prevent much individual suffering (due to fewer people give unnecessary ineffective treatments) and cost effectiveness of treatment to improve.
CBD Risks?
Cannabidiol is a component of the hemp plant that is not the hallucinogenic or “high” profile effects caused where the hemp plant is known, unlike the other ingredient of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabidiol may be due to the absence of hallucinogenic and instantly rewarding properties / effects are safely used for medical purposes.