Effects of cannabidiol and rimonabant on induced experimental anxiety in humans

• Grant number: 10/09635-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2010
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena Costa Queiroz
• Grantee: Regina Helena Costa Queiroz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Antonio Waldo Zuardi ; José Alexandre de Souza Crippa ; Maria Eugênia Queiroz Nassur

Abstract

The Cannabidiol (CBD), which constitutes about 40% of the cannabinoids found in the plant Cannabis sativa, has lack of psychological and cognitive effects, typical for 9-Tetraidrocanabinol (9-THC). Studies have shown that CBD has anxiolytic effects, however it was never studied to clinical anxiety. As a matter of fact, CBD can act by two different types of receptors: type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (CB2); it is supposed that the anxiolytic effect of CBD is mediated by CB1 receptor and, even though, it is still unknown how the anxiolytic effect of CBD is mediated in patients with social phobia. Thus, the aim of this work is to assess the anxiolytic effect of CBD in the pathological anxiety and to assess how the block of the CB1 modulates the experimental anxiety in healthy volunteers submitted to Public Speaking Simulation Task (PSST) and how this blockade can change the anxiolytic effect of CBD. CBD or placebo will be administered orally to healthy volunteers with social phobia (n=12) and CBD/placebo, CBD/Rimonabanto or placebo/ placebo will be administerd orally to healthy volunteers (n=12). All the volunteers will be submitted to PSST in a double blind procedure. The subjective anxiety measurements will be made through the following self-assessment scales: 1. Visual Analogue Mood Scale; 2. Body Symptoms Scale; 3. Self - Statements during Public Speaking. It will also be measure the heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance and spontaneous skin conductance fluctuations. These results will contribute to the understanding of the therapeutical effect of CBD, to provide some data about its mechanism of action and finally the imply of the use of Rimonabant on this anxiolytic action. (AU)