INGESTING cannabidiol (CBD) before diagnostic scans may help reduce anxiety in women with advanced breast cancer, according to recent findings. The study, carried out by a team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, found that CBD significantly decreased anxiety levels two to four hours after ingestion. However, anxiety levels did not differ significantly between patients taking CBD and those receiving a placebo.
The research team highlighted that these results warrant further investigation into CBD as a safe, potential therapy for cancer-related anxiety. Anxiety affects one in four or five adults in oncology settings, and current treatments like benzodiazepines often come with undesirable side effects, including confusion and addiction.
CBD, derived from hemp, lacks the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in marijuana and is not addictive. Already used for conditions such as epilepsy and MRI-related anxiety, its broader therapeutic potential remains under study.
In a randomised clinical trial, 50 women undergoing CT or PET scans for advanced breast cancer were divided into two groups: one received a single 400-mg oral dose of FDA-approved CBD, while the other took a placebo. Anxiety changes were measured using the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) before and after ingestion.
Results showed that although both groups experienced reduced anxiety, the difference between them was not statistically significant. The CBD group’s anxiety scores dropped by 19.1 points, compared to a 15-point reduction in the placebo group (p = 0.37). However, between two and four hours post-ingestion, women who took CBD demonstrated significantly lower anxiety (T-scores of 51.5 vs 58.0; p = 0.02).
The researchers reported no severe adverse effects, affirming CBD’s safety. They noted that the small sample size and other limitations might have affected the statistical significance of the findings.
The study authors called for larger, longitudinal trials using wearable devices and repeated anxiety measures to better assess CBD’s efficacy in managing cancer-related anxiety. They emphasised the importance of exploring CBD’s role as a non-addictive, safe therapeutic option for patients with acute clinical anxiety.
Reference
Nayak MM et al. Cannabidiol for scan-related anxiety in women with advanced breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(12):e2450391.
