Presently, obsessive-compulsive patients are often treated with selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like the antidepressant Prozac, in addition to psychotherapy. With that said, a team of researchers published a study in the journal Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology earlier this month that investigated cannabidiol (CBD) and its ability to help treat rats with OCD.
Once mCPP was administered, the researchers conducted a “marble-burying test” with the rats in order to evaluate OCD activity. Low doses of the drug, according to the study, was found to increase marble-burying tendencies in rats, while large dosages seemed to decrease them. There was, however, no difference in noticeable anxiety behaviors.
The researchers then administered two levels (30mg/kg or 15mg/kg) of cannabidiol (CBD) and evaluated the obsessive-compulsive activity in each rat. Interestingly, even a low dose of CBD decreased the marble-burying behavior without a change in the rats’ overall activity level.
According to the study, its results reinforce the possible anti-compulsive effect of cannabidiol (CBD). More research will be necessary before CBD is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in a clinical setting, but findings such as these suggest that cannabis may be a valuable tool in OCD treatment.
More about CBD and OCD: Medical Jane