CBD shows promise for traumatic brain injury recovery in small trial
NCT ID NCT05632627
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether cannabidiol (CBD) can improve thinking, mood, and other symptoms in people who have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI). 43 adults with mild or moderate TBI took either CBD or a placebo for 12 weeks. Researchers measured changes in cognition, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and inflammation markers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cannabidiol (CBD)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, CBD could become a treatment option for lingering symptoms like memory problems, anxiety, and pain after a traumatic brain injury.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 43 people. The results may not apply to everyone, and CBD might not work better than a placebo.
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
-
43 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Apr 2023
- Finished
-
Jul 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 60 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. Ability to provide valid informed consent 2. 18-60 years old 3. Current or history of TBI as identified by the Ohio Identification Method 4. TBI severity is mild or moderate based on the VA/DoD Classification of TBI Severity 5. TBI event must have resulted in hospital evaluation (emergency department or other hospital-based assessment) or evaluation within a clinical setting, except in cases in which the TBI was acquired in a military deployment context in which medical services were not immediately available 6. Ongoing neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., depressive, anxiety, pain, cognitive complaints, or sleep complaints) that are plausibly associated with TBI and not better accounted for by co-occurring medical or psychological health conditions 7. Not currently in another treatment study for TBI-related symptoms or co-occurring medical or psychological health conditions 8. Co-occurring treatments must be stable in type, dose, and frequency for the four weeks preceding study enrollment and participants must commit to making no changes in these co-occurring treatments during the study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Currently incarcerated, paroled, or on probation 2. Participant has retained an attorney in relation to the TBI 3. Pregnant at the time of study enrollment or unwilling to commit to the use of two forms of contraception throughout the duration of the study 4. Vision, hearing, or communication impairments that preclude valid completion of study assessments 5. History of autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, and/or serious neurological or central nervous system disease that would be expected to affect cognition (e.g., epilepsy, tumors, multiple sclerosis) 6. Evidence of poor effort (TOMMe \< 8) on neuropsychological testing at baseline/Week 0 7. Current or lifetime diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder type I \& II, cluster B personality disorders (antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, histrionic), eating disorders, as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-5-TR, APA 2022) 8. Meets criteria for major depressive episode as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-5-TR, APA 2022) and with a Beck Depression Inventory-2 score \> 24; 9. Current suicidal ideation, as indicated by Beck Depression Inventory-2 item #9 score \> 0, or C-SSRS endorsement of item #2, or verbal or written report of current suicidal ideation by the participant to any study team member 10. History of significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition 11. Alcohol use disorder score of 5 or greater, or substance use disorder, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-5-TR, APA 2022), in the six months preceding study enrollment 12. Reported use of other drugs (cocaine, opiates, methamphetamine, MDMA) in the past 60 days or test positive on a urine test for those drugs of abuse at baseline; 13. Currently taking medications known to be contraindicated with Epidiolex (buprenorphine, leflunomide, levomethadyl acetate, lomitapide, mipomersen, pexidartinib, propoxyphene, sodium oxybate, teriflunomide, clobazam, lamotrigine, valproate). 14. Current diagnosis of a seizure disorder or epilepsy 15. Report using cannabis once daily or more than once daily over the last 12 months 16. Report current use of CBD for medical reasons or TBI symptoms 17. Liver function enzymes (AST, ALT) that are greater than 2x normal
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Brain injuries, traumatic 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
-
University of Colorado Anschutz
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Blood tests in the ambulance: a new study probes early brain injury markers
- A 45-Second eye scan could reveal hidden brain injury
- Eye scan could spot hidden brain injury in seconds
- Robots join the rehab team: a new hope for regaining movement?
- Brain-wave test may predict who wakes up after severe brain injury
- Could simple drain care rules slash brain injury infections?