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BAnner van het Boostcamp onderzoek

BOOSTCAMP: Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on trauma symptoms, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality

The effects of Cannabidiol on anxiety, stress and sleep.

Introduction

Approximately 10% of military personnel experience anxiety, trauma and stressor related disorders. Most of the time people are placed on a waiting list because immediate access to treatment is not possible. Although these waiting times are relatively short for Dutch military personnel and veterans, implementing treatments that patients can benefit from before the start of initial treatment can prevent the increase in symptom severity and the need for more intensive and longer treatments. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a role in anxiety, as well as other symptoms such as increased stress reactivity and sleep problems. Enhancement of the ECS with cannabidiol (CBD) causes an increase in the endogenous cannabinoids anandamide (AEA) that may help alleviate these symptoms in patients and prevent an increase in symptom severity in patients waiting for their treatment.

BOOSTCAMP is a clinical randomized placebo-controlled trial in Dutch military personnel and veterans. For a period of 2 weeks study participants will receive CBD (3 x 200 mg; oral capsules) or placebo daily. The primary outcome measures related to the effects of CBD on anxiety symptoms will be measured before and after the 2 weeks of CBD/placebo administration and after 3 months. Secondary outcome measures (effects on extinction, extinction consolidation, and stress regulation) are measured before and after the 2 weeks of CBD/placebo administration. Sleep will be measured daily during the 2-week period with an actiwatch. In addition, blood will be drawn before and after the 2 weeks of administration to determine AEA, 2-AG and CBD levels.

Project Overview

Objective:

  1. To investigate the effects of CBD for reducing anxiety symptoms.
  2. Additional objectives are to investigate the effects of CBD on extinction and extinction consolidation, stress regulation and sleep.

Target population:

Dutch military personnel and veterans (18-65 years) awaiting treatment for conditions where anxiety symptoms are present, such as anxiety disorders or trauma- and stressor-related disorders.

Timeframe:

The study started in September 2021. The expected duration is 6 years.

Results:

Results of the study are expected by the beginning of 2026.