Cannabidiol as a Treatment for AUD Comorbid With PTSD (NCT03248167) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 1/2
Cannabidiol as a Treatment for AUD Comorbid With PTSD
United States95 participantsStarted 2019-09-16
Plain-language summary
This project aims to determine whether cannabidiol (CBD), a compound derived from the cannabis plant, is effective in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) in individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Investigators will test the hypothesis that oral cannabidiol (CBD) will reduce alcohol drinking in individuals with AUD comorbid with PTSD. To test this hypothesis, 48 otherwise healthy adult participants with moderate or severe AUD and PTSD will be randomized to treatment with either CBD (600 mg daily) or placebo, for a period of 6 weeks, such that both participants and study staff are blind to treatment condition. Participants (each treated for 6 weeks) will be continuously recruited over a study period of 14 months until 48 have completed. Baseline and weekly data will be collected on alcohol usage and PTSD symptoms, and investigators will assess whether CBD treatment leads to a greater improvement in these measures relative to placebo, and whether reduction in alcohol drinking is temporally linked to improvement in PTSD symptoms. Subjects will also participate in a task designed to quantify the psychological and physiological links between negative emotion produced by re-experiencing PTSD trauma, and alcohol craving. The task will be administered following 4 weeks of treatment. Treatment-associated reduction in alcohol craving elicited by trauma-associated negative emotion between CBD and placebo groups will be compared. This study will be the first to test whether CBD is effective in treating alcohol addiction and in treating PTSD in humans, and the first to examine the interaction between these treatment effects. Results will serve as proof of concept and provide guidance for a future larger clinical trial. Because CBD is a safe, readily available drug, such a trial would have an immense potential to prevent death, medical illness, and psychological suffering associated with AUD and PTSD. Further, because the brain circuits via which CBD acts to produce hypothesized effects are relatively well-understood, results may substantially advance understanding of the neurobiological basis of alcohol addiction.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Males and females age 18-70
. DSM-5 diagnosis of moderate or severe AUD
. DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD with Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) OR subPTSD diagnosis (meeting criterion A, F, G, H and at least 6 symptoms across any criteria B-E) with Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5)
. Able to provide voluntary informed consent
. At least 6 heavy drinking days (4 or more drinks per day for a woman, 5 or more drinks per day for a man) in the 30 days prior to screen
. If of childbearing potential (male or female), are willing to use approved form of contraception from screening for duration of the trial
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. Exclusionary medical conditions (e.g. current severe alcohol withdrawal requiring medical hospitalization, significantly impaired liver function)
. DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder
. High risk of adverse emotional or behavioral reaction, and/or an inability to understand study procedures or the informed consent process, based on investigator's clinical evaluation (e.g., evidence of serious personality disorder, antisocial behavior, serious current stressors, lack of meaningful social support)
. Exposure to trauma in the last 30 days, including police duty or military service
. Current significant suicidality (assessed using the C-SSRS), any significant suicidal behavior in the past 12 months, or any history of serious suicide attempts requiring hospitalization, or current significant homicidality
. History of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI; as indicated by Loss of Consciousness \> 24 hours)
. DSM-5 diagnosis of current mild cannabis use disorder and/or moderate or severe substance use disorder for a substance other than alcohol or nicotine