A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has investigated the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) to alleviate anxiety among breast cancer patients, particularly in the context of scan-related anxiety, also known as "scanxiety." While the findings indicated that a single dose of CBD did not significantly reduce scanxiety, the study suggested that CBD could effectively decrease overall anxiety levels in these patients.
Collaborative Research Effort
Researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Mass General Brigham Hospital joined forces to assess the efficacy of CBD in managing anxiety. The randomized clinical trial involved 50 women aged 18 years or older with advanced breast cancer and baseline clinical anxiety. Half of the participants received a single oral dose of 400mg FDA-approved CBD, while the other half received a placebo treatment.
Measuring Anxiety Levels
To evaluate the impact of CBD on anxiety, the researchers utilized the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) to measure anxiety levels before and 2-4 hours after administering the CBD or placebo treatments. Although participants who took CBD did not experience a significant reduction in scanxiety compared to the placebo group, the study revealed that CBD did lead to reduced overall anxiety levels 2-4 hours after consumption.
Corroborating Previous Findings
The results of this study align with previous research highlighting CBD's anxiety-reducing properties. Notably, no participants reported significant adverse effects, further supporting the potential safety of CBD as a treatment option for managing anxiety symptoms.
Implications for Future Research
Dr. Ilana Braun, one of the study authors, emphasized the importance of this research in laying the groundwork for future clinical studies exploring the effectiveness and safety of CBD treatments for mood disorders. "Our study also demonstrates high levels of interest in clinical trials to test treating anxiety with CBD and highlights the need to conduct follow-up studies to understand how CBD integrates into the armament of therapies to address cancer related anxiety," she explained.
The findings of this study not only underscore the potential of ingestible CBD to alleviate anxiety symptoms in breast cancer patients but also suggest its potential application for managing anxiety in a broader context. As the vaping industry continues to evolve and incorporate CBD-based products, research like this plays a crucial role in informing consumers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the potential benefits and limitations of CBD in addressing specific health concerns.
