Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) Versus Placebo as an Adjunct to Treatment in Early Psychosis
Purpose
This is an outpatient, single center, between-group, double blind, placebo controlled design. Approximately 120 adolescents and adult patients will be randomized to either have their treatment augmented with Cannabidiol Oral Solution (CBD) or with a matching CBD placebo for 8 weeks. The study will examine CBD as an augmentation strategy in early psychosis. It is hypothesized that CBD will improve symptoms, neurocognition, markers of inflammation and eating behaviors. Importantly, moderators and mediators of the CBD effects will be explored.
Condition
- Early Psychosis
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 16 Years and 30 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- First episode psychosis (onset within the last 2 years) or attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS), stabilized with treatment for at least 8 weeks prior to initiating the trial consistent with the FDA-NIMH-MATRICS guidelines for clinical trial design for clinical enhancing drugs: - Clinically stable and in a nonacute phase of their illness for at least 2 months, First episode psychosis participants will have been maintained on current antipsychotic for at least 6 weeks, with no change in antipsychotic dose for the previous 4 weeks while APS participants will be on the same treatment regimen (psychosocial or pharmacologic) for 4 weeks, - Exhibit no more than moderate levels of positive symptoms (defined by ratings of ≤ 4) on PANSS items P1 (delusions), P2 (conceptual disorganization), P3 (hallucinatory behavior), P5 (grandiosity), P6 (suspiciousness), and G8 (unusual thought content), - No more than a minimal level of depressive symptoms as assessed by the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) - Acceptable diagnoses will include APS, Psychosis NOS, Schizophreniform, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective per the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V.
Exclusion Criteria
- Concomitant medical or neurological illness; - Significant head injury; - Impaired intellectual functioning IQ<80; however those with an IQ i the 75-79 range will be include if WRAT reading > 85 suggesting higher premorbid IQ. - High suicidal risk assessed by the The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)42 - Pregnant women and those who do not agree to avoid becoming pregnant - Patients requiring treatment with Azelastine, Azelastine; Fluticasone, Dronabinol, Valproic Acid, or Divalproex Sodium
Study Design
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel Assignment
- Intervention Model Description
- This is a between-group, double blind, placebo controlled design.
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
- Masking Description
- Randomization will be assigned by study statisticians.
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Cannabidiol Augmentation |
The cannabidiol will be administered as an oral solution to be mixed in any fluid. The formulation is 100 mg/ml. It will be administered at 500 mg at bedtime X 1 week then 500 mg BID. |
|
|
Placebo Comparator Placebo Augmentation |
Placebo will appear identical to the cannabidiol solution |
|
Recruiting Locations
La Jolla 5363943, California 5332921 92093
San Diego 5391811, California 5332921 92093
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of California, San Diego
Detailed Description
Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive CBD or matching Placebo as an add-on to antipsychotic medication in an 8 week double blind trial. In this study, Cannabidiol Oral Solution (CBD) product will be used. This product is manufactured and supplied by GW Pharmaceuticals. The formulation is a 100 mg/mL solution. The CBD compound will be dosed at 1000mg/day administered in two divided doses. The dose of CBD was selected based on previous controlled trials that demonstrate the efficacy of CBD in patients with schizophrenia. The maximum duration of the study from screening to follow up of outcomes and adverse events will be approximately 8 weeks. Participants will receive either the CBD or placebo within this eight.weeks and will also complete pre-treatment, midpoint (week 4) and post-treatment testing (week 8).