Welcome to this comprehensive resource on cannabidiol (CBD) research. As interest in CBD continues to grow, so does the scientific exploration of its potential therapeutic benefits. This page compiles a collection of peer-reviewed studies examining CBD’s effects across various conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, chronic pain, neurological disorders, and more.
Whether you are a healthcare professional, researcher, or simply someone looking for evidence-based information on CBD, these studies provide valuable insights into its safety, efficacy, and medical applications. Explore the findings from clinical trials and systematic reviews to better understand how CBD is being studied and utilized in modern medicine.
Peer Reviewed Studies and Data on CBD Use
Feel free to browse the studies we have found when it comes to the use of CBD and helping manage different symptoms associated with different illnesses. We try to keep up-to-date with our studies list, and include only peer reviewed, real, medical studies found in medical journals.
Studies on CBD and Epilepsy
Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
A pivotal randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that CBD significantly reduced seizure frequency in patients with Dravet syndrome. This study was instrumental in the FDA’s approval of Epidiolex, a CBD-based medication for certain epilepsy syndromes (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2019).
Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Dravet Syndrome
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of CBD in children and young adults with Dravet syndrome. The study found that CBD significantly reduced the frequency of convulsive seizures compared to placebo, supporting its therapeutic potential (Devinsky et al., 2017).
Cannabidiol for Drop Seizures in Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome
A randomized, controlled trial assessed the impact of CBD on drop seizures in patients with Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Results demonstrated that CBD significantly decreased the frequency of drop seizures compared to placebo, highlighting its potential as an adjunctive treatment (Thiele et al., 2018).
Add-on Cannabidiol Treatment for Drug-Resistant Seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex
This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of CBD as an add-on therapy for seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. The study concluded that CBD significantly reduced seizure frequency in patients with this condition, providing evidence for its use in managing drug-resistant seizures (Thiele et al., 2021).
Anxiety, Stress, and CBD Use
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Research indicates that CBD may have anxiolytic effects. A study found that CBD significantly reduced anxiety during a simulated public speaking test for individuals with social anxiety disorder (Zuardi et al., 2017).
Stress Response
Some studies have shown that CBD can reduce self-reported anxiety levels during stressful tasks, though its influence on physiological stress responses (e.g., cortisol levels) is less clear (Blessing et al., 2015).
Cannabidiol for Scan-Related Anxiety in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer
A randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of CBD in reducing scan-related anxiety among women with advanced breast cancer. Participants who received CBD reported significantly lower anxiety levels compared to those who received a placebo, suggesting CBD’s potential in alleviating situational anxiety in clinical settings (Jabbar et al., 2024).
Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
A retrospective case series examined the impact of CBD on anxiety and sleep among 72 adults. The findings indicated that anxiety scores decreased within the first month in 79.2% of patients and remained reduced during the study period, highlighting CBD’s potential benefits for anxiety-related disorders (Shannon et al., 2019).
Enhancing Endocannabinoid Control of Stress with Cannabidiol
A review of clinical evidence suggested that CBD may reduce the stress response by modulating the endocannabinoid system. Studies highlighted that CBD could attenuate stress-induced anxiety behaviors and physiological responses, potentially offering a therapeutic avenue for stress-related conditions (Patel et al., 2022).
Using CBD For Pain and Inflammation
Chronic Pain
Evidence regarding CBD’s efficacy in chronic pain management is mixed. Some studies suggest potential benefits, while others do not show significant improvements compared to placebo (Vuckovic et al., 2018).
A systematic review evaluated the efficacy and safety of CBD in chronic pain management. The analysis concluded that while some studies suggest potential benefits, the overall evidence remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for more rigorous clinical trials (Mucke et al., 2018).
Arthritis
An animal study published in the European Journal of Pain indicated that topical CBD application could reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis (Hammell et al., 2016).
Research investigating CBD’s impact on rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated that CBD increased intracellular calcium levels, reduced cell viability, and decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits in managing arthritis-related inflammation (Lowin et al., 2020).
Cannabidiol and Inflammatory Responses
A study examined the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD and β-caryophyllene (BCP) in human keratinocytes. Findings indicated that both compounds, individually and combined, reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins, suggesting a synergistic effect in combating inflammation (Suliman et al., 2024).
Cannabidiol for Osteoarthritis-Related Pain
A systematic review of clinical trials assessed CBD’s efficacy in various pain conditions, including osteoarthritis-related pain. Results from several trials indicated that CBD treatment has pain-reducing properties, though further research is needed to confirm these findings (Philpott et al., 2017).
Cannabidiol in Chronic Orthopedic Pain
Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the efficacy of cannabis and cannabinoids, including CBD, in treating chronic orthopedic pain. These studies aim to fill the knowledge gap in musculoskeletal pain treatment and evaluate CBD’s potential as an alternative to traditional pain management strategies (Lindley et al., 2023).
Neuropathic Pain
A Cochrane systematic review assessed the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of cannabis-based medicines, including CBD, in adults with chronic neuropathic pain. The review concluded that such medicines may provide pain relief for some individuals, but the quality of evidence is low, and potential adverse effects should be considered (Mücke et al., 2018).
A study published in Frontiers in Physiology examined the effects of a 1:1 CBD:THC oromucosal spray in patients with chronic neuropathic pain. After three months, 67.5% of patients experienced at least a 50% reduction in pain intensity, with more pronounced effects observed in those with neuropathic and mixed pain types (Ueberall et al., 2019).
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial investigated the effects of THC and CBD, both alone and in combination, on neuropathic pain and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. The study found that the combination of THC and CBD was more effective than placebo in reducing pain and spasticity, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of combined cannabinoid treatment (Koppel et al., 2014).
Studies on CBD and Cancer Related Symptoms
*CBD has not been shown to cure, prevent, or treat cancer.
Antitumor Effects
Laboratory experiments have suggested that cannabinoids, including CBD, may have anticarcinogenic and antitumor effects, including a potential effect on breast and lung cancer cells (Velasco et al., 2016).
Symptom Management
CBD has been studied for its role in alleviating cancer-related symptoms such as pain and nausea, especially when traditional treatments are ineffective (Likar & Nahler, 2017).
Studies on Using CBD For Mental Health Disorders
Psychosis
Some studies have explored CBD’s potential antipsychotic properties, suggesting it may benefit individuals with conditions like schizophrenia (Leweke et al., 2012).
Depression
The relationship between CBD and depression is complex, with some studies indicating potential benefits, while others find no significant effect (Blessing et al., 2015).
Cannabidiol as an Adjunctive Treatment in Early Psychosis:
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is investigating the effectiveness of CBD augmentation on symptoms and neurocognition in early psychosis. The study aims to determine whether CBD can enhance the response to antipsychotic treatment and improve daily functioning and quality of life in individuals with early psychosis (Bhattacharyya et al., 2023).
Cannabidiol for Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis:
The CAN-PDP trial is a clinical drug trial investigating whether CBD is a safe and tolerable treatment for reducing psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, in patients with Parkinson’s disease. This study aims to provide evidence for CBD’s efficacy in managing psychosis associated with Parkinson’s disease (Ostwald et al., 2023).
Cannabidiol for Emotional Exhaustion and Burnout:
A randomized clinical trial assessed the efficacy of CBD in reducing emotional exhaustion and burnout symptoms among frontline healthcare professionals. The findings suggest that CBD may act as an effective agent for reducing emotional exhaustion and burnout in this population (Trigo et al., 2021).
Cannabidiol for Anxiety and Depression in Bipolar Disorder:
A pilot open-label clinical trial is assessing a custom-formulated high-CBD product over four weeks in patients with bipolar disorder who experience anxiety. This study aims to evaluate the impact of CBD on anxiety and depression symptoms in individuals with bipolar disorder (Stanciu et al., 2022).
Substance Use Disorders
Opioid Addiction
Research led by Dr. Yasmin Hurd has shown that CBD may reduce cue-induced cravings and anxiety in individuals with heroin use disorder, indicating its potential as a treatment for opioid addiction (Hurd et al., 2019).
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia
Some studies suggest that CBD may improve sleep quality in individuals with insomnia, though more research is needed to confirm these findings (Shannon et al., 2019).
Cannabidiol Treatment for Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial investigated the efficacy of nightly 150 mg CBD supplementation in adults with primary insomnia. The study found no significant differences between the CBD and placebo groups in insomnia severity or self-reported sleep onset latency. However, the CBD group reported greater well-being scores throughout the trial, suggesting potential psychological benefits of CBD supplementation (Swinburne University of Technology, 2023).
Cannabidiol and Terpene Formulation on Sleep in Individuals with Insomnia
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover study evaluated the effects of an oral CBD-terpene formulation on sleep physiology in individuals with insomnia. The results indicated that the CBD-terpene regimen marginally increased the percentage of time participants spent in slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep compared to placebo. No significant effects were observed on total sleep time, resting heart rate, or heart rate variability (Wang et al., 2025).
Treating Insomnia Symptoms with Medicinal Cannabis: A Randomized Crossover Trial
A randomized, crossover trial assessed the efficacy of a cannabinoid medicine compared with placebo in treating insomnia symptoms. Participants received nightly sublingual administration of a novel cannabinoid formulation for two weeks. The study demonstrated that the cannabinoid formulation improved insomnia symptoms and was well-tolerated by participants (Walsh et al., 2021).
Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol for Chronic Insomnia Disorder: A Proof-of-Concept Study
A proof-of-concept study evaluated the effects of a single dose of an oral cannabis-based medicine containing 10 mg Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 200 mg CBD on sleep and daytime function in participants with chronic insomnia disorder. The study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of this formulation in improving sleep outcomes. Results indicated potential benefits, warranting further investigation (Hoyos et al., 2020).
The Use of Cannabinoids for Insomnia in Daily Life: A Naturalistic Study
A naturalistic study examined the effects of medicinal cannabis use on insomnia symptoms in daily life. Participants reported significant reductions in insomnia symptoms after cannabis use, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids for managing insomnia. However, the study emphasized the need for rigorous randomized placebo-controlled trials to confirm these findings (Kuhathasan et al., 2021).
