The emotional burden of SUS health teams involved in caring for patients with COVID-19: evaluation of the effectiveness of prophylactic measures, including the use of cannabidiol

• Grant number: 20/12066-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• Start date: March 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Agreement: CNPq - PPSUS
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Waldo Zuardi
• Grantee: Antonio Waldo Zuardi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alline Cristina de Campos ; Flávia de Lima Osório ; Francisco Silveira Guimaraes ; Jaime Eduardo Cecilio Hallak ; José Alexandre de Souza Crippa

Abstract

The objective of this project is to monitor the level of stress and emotional overload of SUS health professionals who participate in the care of patients with COVID-19, evaluating the effectiveness of cannabidiol in reducing stress and preventing mental disorders (Burnout, Acute Stress, Post-traumatic stress, and depression). One hundred two health professionals participating in the care of patients with COVID 19 will participate in the study. For four weeks, all participants will be monitored, and half will receive CBD (300 mg/day in two doses), and the other half will only be monitored (for ethical reasons, the use of placebo was not allowed). The subjects of each CBD / non-CBD group will be selected by lot, through randomization by minimization. We will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of daily use of CBD in reducing stress, preventing depression, burnout, and acute and post-traumatic stress disorder; sleep and temperature patterns (monitored 24h / day by actigraph); in the modification of inflammatory parameters (such as cytokines), genotyping and viral overload. The assessments will vary between daily (mood and actigraph scales), every two days (viral load and temperature), and weekly (scales applied remotely, electronically (App of cell phones - and laboratory tests). The data will be quickly analyzed and, if the use of the CBD shows satisfactory results and with good tolerance, the CBD will be made available to participants who have not used it and wish to do it. The evaluation of safety and effectiveness will be carried out by an independent committee (Monitoring Committee). After the four weeks of CBD use, research participants will be followed for the next 2 months, with the same protocol and without medication, all patients will be reassessed for the presence of mental disorders (SCID-V) and Burnout (ICD-11- Burnout) 12 months after the beginning of your participation in the study. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GUNASEKERA, BRANDON; DAVIES, CATHY; BLEST-HOPLEY, GRACE; VERONESE, MATTIA; RAMSEY, NICK F.; BOSSONG, MATTHIJS G.; RADUA, JOAQUIM; BHATTACHARYYA, SAGNIK; CBE CONSORTIUM. Task-independent acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on human brain function and its relationship with cannabinoid receptor gene expression: A neuroimaging meta-regression analysis. NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, v. 140, p. 22-pg., 2022-08-02. (20/12110-9, 20/12066-0)