CBD shows promise for social anxiety in small trial
NCT ID NCT05571592
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether cannabidiol (CBD), a compound from the cannabis plant, can reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder. Sixty adults with moderate to severe social anxiety took either a high dose of CBD, a lower dose, or a placebo pill twice daily for three weeks. Researchers measured changes in anxiety during a stress task, brain activity using fMRI, and clinician-rated social anxiety scores to see if CBD had a calming effect.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2023
- Finished
-
Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 45 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female outpatients aged 18 to 45 years of age 2. A primary mental health complaint (designated by the patient as the most important source of current distress and confirmed on Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 diagnoses by a certified clinical evaluator) of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), as defined by DSM-5 criteria 3. Overall social anxiety severity defined by a Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score of at least 60 4. Willingness and ability to participate in the informed consent process and comply with the requirements of the study protocol. Includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in ICF and in the protocol (including consent to abstain from using marijuana, any cannabis-related products, or any tobacco products during the study). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to CBD or any of the excipients 2. A lifetime history of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, or delusional disorders; obsessive-compulsive disorder or an eating disorder in the past 12 months; neurocognitive disorders, intellectual disabilities, communication disorders or other cognitive dysfunction that could interfere with capacity to engage in therapy or complete study procedures; major depressive disorder, substance or alcohol use disorder (other than nicotine) in the last 6 months. 3. Positive urine toxicology for illicit drugs and/or cannabinoids, or self-reported use of CBD, THC or marijuana in the past 4 weeks prior to baseline 4. Patients with significant suicidal ideation (assessed by CSSRS SI score greater than 2) or who have enacted suicidal behaviors within 6 months prior to intake will be excluded from study participation and referred for appropriate clinical intervention. 5. Patients must be free of concurrent psychotropic medications including antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, and opioids, and medications that both have a narrow therapeutic index as determined by the study clinician, and are also substrates or moderate to strong inhibitors of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, UGT1A9, UGT2B7, CYP2C8, CYP1A2 or CYP2B6, or are strong inducers of CYP3A4 or CYP2C19, for at least 4 weeks prior to initiation of randomized treatment. 6. Inability to understand study procedures or informed consent process, or significant personality dysfunction likely to interfere with study participation (assessed during the clinical interview) or inability to comply with study procedures (such as planned extended travel) assessed on clinical interview. 7. Serious current unstable medical illness, or a condition for which hospitalization may be likely within the next year as assessed by medical history and physical exam. If any questions about medical safety emerge with screening procedures, consent will be formally obtained to contact patient's PCP in order to determine whether any medical concerns making participation unsafe or not feasible (such as need for extended inpatient care or medications with concern for significant drug interactions and/or safe utilization of CBD) are present. 8. Clinically significant abnormal physical examination, vital signs or 12 lead ECG at screening. Clinically significant abnormal values for hematology, clinical chemistry, or urinalysis at screening. 9. Pregnant women (to be ruled out by urine ß-HCG) and women of childbearing potential who are not using medically accepted forms of contraception (such as IUD, oral contraceptives, barrier devices, condoms and foam, or implanted progesterone rods stabilized for at least 3 months). Men must also be using at least one medically accepted form of contraception. 10. Any concurrent psychotherapy initiated within 3 months of baseline, or ongoing psychotherapy of any duration directed specifically toward treatment of SAD. Prohibited psychotherapy includes CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness-based approaches or psychodynamic therapy focusing on exploring specific, dynamic causes of the SAD symptomatology and providing management skills. General supportive therapy initiated greater than 3 months prior is acceptable. 11. Has received an investigational drug or used an invasive investigational medical device within 1 month or within a period less than 10 times the drug's half-life, whichever is longer, before Day 1 12. Patients with a history of head trauma causing loss of consciousness, seizure or ongoing cognitive impairment. 13. Contraindications for MRI including metal implants, surgical clips, probability of metal fragments, or braces that are prohibited due to severe risk of injury. 14. Left-handed 15. A prior history of a diagnosis of moderate to severe hepatic dysfunction or current bilirubin \>=1.5X ULN and/or ALT or AST as 2X ULN, and/or if clinically significant signs and symptoms that are together suggestive of significant hepatic injury (i.e., nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant pain, anorexia, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine).
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Social anxiety disorder are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, 10016, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a computer game rewire anxious Kids' brains?
- Can tailored brain stimulation quiet anxiety that drugs Can't?
- Can meditation rewire the anxious social brain?
- One-Size-Fits-All anxiety therapy may be a thing of the past
- Ear-Zapping device may tame social anxiety — trial puts it to the test
- Can an AI coach help therapists treat depression and anxiety online?