Scientists are launching a major global study to see whether cannabidiol (CBD) can treat people with psychosis or psychotic symptoms. CBD is one of the chemicals found in marijuana but it does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in marijuana which produces a feeling of being high.
At the moment, CBD is only prescribed on the NHS for a few conditions, such as for children and adults with rare, severe epilepsy and adults with vomiting or nausea caused by chemotherapy. Now, the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry has been awarded £16.5 million by charitable foundation Wellcome to launch a global clinical trial later this year.
The Stratification and Treatment in Early Psychosis (Step) programme will be led by Professor Philip McGuire at Oxford and involve 1,000 people, including those at clinically high risk of psychosis, people with a first episode of psychosis and patients with psychosis who have not responded to conventional treatment. The programme will involve 35 centres, mainly in Europe and North America, and will be co-ordinated from Oxford.
