Introduction: Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety conditions, with lifetime prevalence estimates of 7-12% of the general population[1]. SAD is characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety avoidance of a wide variety of social situations[2]. Cannabidiol (CBD), one major non-psychotomimetic compound from the Cannabis sativa, has shown anxiolytic effects both in animals and in human studies[3]. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol in volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) submitted to the simulation of public speaking test (SPST). Method: 24 subjects with generalized SAD and 12 healthy controls subjects were selected. All participants were undergraduate students, never treated (either by pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy) and without any other concomitant psychiatric disorder. Informed consent was obtained from each subject. The protocol was approved by the local Ethical Committee. The subjects were randomly allocated into three experimental groups: 1) 12 SAD subjects received CBD 600 mg (SAD-CBD); 2) 12 SAD subjects received placebo (SAD-PLAC) and 3) 12 healthy controls (HC). The groups were matched according to gender, age, years of education and socioeconomic level. Each volunteer participated in only one experimental session. Subjective ratings on the Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) and Negative Self-Statement scale (SSPS-N) were applied at six different time points, during SPST. After a 15min adaptation period, baseline measurements (B) were taken followed by a single dose of oral cannabidiol or placebo, in a double-blind procedure. Pre-stress measurements (P) were made after 80min the drug ingestion. Immediately thereafter the subjects received the instructions and had 2 minutes to prepare a 4 minutes speech about "the public transportation system of your city". Anticipatory speech measurements (A) were taken before the subject started speaking. The speech was interrupted in the middle, and speech measurements (S) were taken. Poststress measurements (F1 and F2) were made 15 and 35min after the end of the speech, respectively. The results were submitted to a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Whenever a significant phase by group interaction occurred, comparisons among groups were made at each phase using one-factor ANOVA followed by multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni's test. Results: The increased of VAMS anxiety factor scores were significantly higher for the SAD-PLAC in relation to HC in the A, S, and F1 measures. The SAD-CBD showed an intermediate score that differed significantly from the SAD-PLAC and HC during the phase S. The scores of the SSPS-N evidenced significant differences between SAD-PLAC and SAD-CBD at the A and S phases and between SAD-PLAC and HC at the S phases. No significant differences were observed between SAD-CBD and HC. Conclusion: The increase in anxiety induced by the SPST on subjects with SAD was mitigated by the CBD, making a similar response by the HC in some measures.
Trastorno de Ansiedad Social Generalizada (SAD) es una de las condiciones de ansiedad más comunes con deterioro en la vida social. El cannabidiol (CBD), uno de los principales compuesto no psicotomimética de la planta cannabis sativa, ha mostrado efectos ansiolíticos, tanto en humanos como en animales. Este estudio preliminar tuvo como objetivo comparar los efectos de una prueba de simulación de hablar en público (SPST) el control de salud (HC) de los pacientes y los pacientes SAD sin tratamiento previo que recibieron una dosis única de CDB o placebo. Un total de 24 pacientes no tratados con SAD fueron asignados para recibir ya sea CDB (600 mg; n = 12) o placebo (placebo, n = 12) en un estudio doble ciego aleatorizado de diseño 1 hora y media antes de la prueba. El mismo número de HC (n = 12) realiza el SPST sin recibir ninguna medicación. Cada voluntario sólo participó en una sesión experimental en un procedimiento de doble ciego. Calificaciones subjetivas sobre la analógica Mood Escala Visual (VAMS) y Negativo escala auto-declaración (SSPS-N) y medidas fisiológicas (presión arterial, frecuencia cardiaca y conductancia de la piel) se midieron en seis puntos diferentes de tiempo durante el SPST. Los resultados fueron sometidos a un análisis de medidas repetidas de la varianza. El pretratamiento con CDB redujo significativamente la ansiedad, deterioro cognitivo y la incomodidad en su desempeño habla y disminuyó significativamente alerta en su discurso anticipatorio. El grupo placebo presentó mayor ansiedad, deterioro cognitivo, incomodidad, y los niveles de alerta cuando se compara con el grupo control tal como se evaluó con el VAMS. Las puntuaciones SSPS-N evidenciaron aumentos significativos durante la prueba de grupo de placebo que fue casi abolida en el grupo CDB. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre el CDB y HC en las puntuaciones SSPS-N o en el deterioro cognitivo, la incomodidad, y los factores de alerta de VAMS. El aumento de la inducida por el SPST en sujetos con ansiedad SAD se redujo con el uso de CDB, lo que resulta en una respuesta similar a la HC.
Introduction: Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety conditions, with lifetime prevalence estimates of 7-12% of the general population[1]. SAD is characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety avoidance of a wide variety of social situations[2]. Cannabidiol (CBD), one major non-psychotomimetic compound from the Cannabis sativa, has shown anxiolytic effects both in animals and in human studies[3]. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol in volunteers with social anxiety disorder (SAD) submitted to the simulation of public speaking test (SPST). Method: 24 subjects with generalized SAD and 12 healthy controls subjects were selected. All participants were undergraduate students, never treated (either by pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy) and without any other concomitant psychiatric disorder. Informed consent was obtained from each subject. The protocol was approved by the local Ethical Committee. The subjects were randomly allocated into three experimental groups: 1) 12 SAD subjects received CBD 600 mg (SAD-CBD); 2) 12 SAD subjects received placebo (SAD-PLAC) and 3) 12 healthy controls (HC). The groups were matched according to gender, age, years of education and socioeconomic level. Each volunteer participated in only one experimental session. Subjective ratings on the Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) and Negative Self-Statement scale (SSPS-N) were applied at six different time points, during SPST. After a 15min adaptation period, baseline measurements (B) were taken followed by a single dose of oral cannabidiol or placebo, in a double-blind procedure. Pre-stress measurements (P) were made after 80min the drug ingestion. Immediately thereafter the subjects received the instructions and had 2 minutes to prepare a 4 minutes speech about "the public transportation system of your city". Anticipatory speech measurements (A) were taken before the subject started speaking. The speech was interrupted in the middle, and speech measurements (S) were taken. Poststress measurements (F1 and F2) were made 15 and 35min after the end of the speech, respectively. The results were submitted to a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Whenever a significant phase by group interaction occurred, comparisons among groups were made at each phase using one-factor ANOVA followed by multiple comparisons with the Bonferroni's test. Results: The increased of VAMS anxiety factor scores were significantly higher for the SAD-PLAC in relation to HC in the A, S, and F1 measures. The SAD-CBD showed an intermediate score that differed significantly from the SAD-PLAC and HC during the phase S. The scores of the SSPS-N evidenced significant differences between SAD-PLAC and SAD-CBD at the A and S phases and between SAD-PLAC and HC at the S phases. No significant differences were observed between SAD-CBD and HC. Conclusion: The increase in anxiety induced by the SPST on subjects with SAD was mitigated by the CBD, making a similar response by the HC in some measures.
Diseño del estudio»Ensayo controlado aleatorizado (ECA)
