Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Psychological Science
Advisor/Mentor
Leen-Feldner, Ellen W.
Committee Member
Shields, Grant
Second Committee Member
Ham, Lindsay S.
Keywords
anxiety; cannabidiol (CBD); sex differences; stress
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating molecule derived from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, displays broad therapeutic potential in the context of anxiety-related vulnerability. Very little work has directly examined the effects of CBD on stress among human subjects; however, existing data suggest CBD has the potential to reduce stress. Two studies have examined the acute versus repeated effects of CBD and reported null effects. The goal of the current study is to replicate and extend existing evidence suggesting CBD reduces stress by examining the effects of acute administration of 300mg CBD compared to repeated CBD administration at the same dosing level (verses placebo) on physical symptoms of stress, perceived stress, physical symptoms of anxiety and state anxiety. Theoretical and empirical evidence suggest the potential for sex differences with respect to CBD administration. The current study also sought to explore potential sex differences in this context. Participants were 79 individuals (Mage = 22.70; SDage = 7.56) self-reporting elevated stress randomly assigned to administer 300mg CBD or placebo daily for two weeks. Results suggest no significant acute or repeated effects of CBD (verses placebo) on physical symptoms of stress, perceived stress, physical symptoms of anxiety, and state anxiety. There were no significant differences between sexes for any exploratory outcomes. These results suggest there are no acute nor repeated effects of 300mg CBD on stress- and anxiety-related outcomes and no sex differences in this context. Methodological factors may account for the unexpected pattern of results; these are detailed with an eye on informing future, rigorous tests of CBD’s anxiolytic effects.
Citation
Gournay, L. R. (2025). An Empirical Assessment of Cannabidiol, Stress, Anxiety, and Sex Differences: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5697
