The Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders: Evidence-Based Review
Abstract:
Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound derived from Cannabis sativa, whose use has aroused growing interest in anxiety disorders’ management. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD does not cause alteration of the state of consciousness, making it safer for medical use.
Objective: The goal of the evidence-based review was to determine the impact of CBD use in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adults.
Methods: Two databases were searched in March 2025: Pubmed and Cochrane. We used the MeSH terms CBD, can nabidiol, anxiety and anxiety disorders, and included studies on adults assessing CBD effects on anxiety symptoms. Evidence level and recommendation strength were assessed using SORT (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy).
Results: Of the 457 articles retrieved, 83 duplicates were excluded and 374 articles were screened. 9 were included in the final analysis: 2 meta-analyses (MA), 6 systematic reviews (SR) and 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT). Dos es and duration of treatment were highly diverse, from 300mg to 800mg, and from a single CBD intake to a 12-week treatment. CBD was helpful to decrease anxiety symptoms in adults with an established diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
Conclusion: The evidence-based review suggests that CBD could be a promising treatment for anxiety disorders. However, a key limitation of the reviewed studies was their small sample sizes, which resulted in low statistical power. According to the Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy, the strength of recommendation for the use of CBD in treating anxiety disorders in adult patients is Grade B, based on inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence.
