New trial suggests CBD oil could lower anxiety in autistic children and reduce parenting stress

A recent study published in the journal Autism Research suggests that cannabidiol oil might help improve certain social behaviors and reduce anxiety in autistic children. While the treatment did not significantly alter the primary measure of broad social communication, the findings provide evidence that it could ease specific daily challenges and lower the stress levels of parents.

Currently, there are no approved medical treatments specifically designed to help with the social difficulties associated with autism. When doctors prescribe medications to manage related behavioral challenges, those drugs often come with unwanted side effects.

Because of this lack of safe options, parents and medical professionals have started looking into other possibilities. Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is a compound found in the cannabis plant that does not produce the high associated with marijuana. It has gained attention for its potential to help with various neurological and psychiatric conditions.

The human body contains a complex network of chemical signals called the endocannabinoid system. This biological system plays a role in regulating mood, sleep, and social behavior in everyday life. Preclinical studies suggest that this system might function differently in people with autism, making it a plausible target for new medical treatments.

“Families are looking for safe, effective options to support social difficulties and anxiety in their autistic children who are struggling in these areas, but the commonly prescribed pharmacological options are limited and can come with unpleasant side effects. At the same time, there has been a significant increase in access to CBD for autism, but a reliable evidence base is still developing and there’s wide variability in products and dosing,” said Nina-Francesca Parrella, a cognitive neuroscience researcher in Deakin University’s Cognitive Neuroscience Unit.

To test the impact of CBD, the researchers designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. This type of study means that the children received both the active CBD oil and an inactive placebo oil at different times, and neither the families nor the scientists knew which oil was being given when. The trial included twenty-nine children diagnosed with autism, including eighteen boys and eleven girls, with an average age of nine and a half years old.

Each child participated in the study for a total of thirty-two weeks. They took either the CBD oil or the placebo oil every day for twelve weeks, followed by an eight-week break to let the substance completely leave their systems. After the break, the children switched to the other oil for another twelve weeks.

The scientists calculated the daily amount of oil based on each child’s weight, giving them ten milligrams of CBD per kilogram of body weight. The specific product used in the trial was a broad-spectrum CBD oil that contained natural plant compounds called terpenes. This specific formulation was chosen because it has almost zero intoxicating ingredients, meaning it does not contain the compound that causes a traditional cannabis high. Parents administered the oil at home twice a day using a precise syringe, keeping a daily online log of their child’s routine and mood.

To measure changes in behavior, Parrella and her colleagues relied on several detailed questionnaires completed by the parents. The primary tool was the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition, which evaluates how severely autism-related symptoms affect a child in everyday social situations. They also used secondary measures, including the Developmental Behavior Checklist, Second Edition, the Autism Parenting Stress Index, and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition.

The results showed that the CBD oil did not create a statistically significant improvement in the primary measure of broad social responsiveness. Children’s scores on the main social scale did drop by an average of seventeen points while taking CBD compared to a seven-point drop on the placebo. However, because the sample size was small, this difference was not mathematically strong enough to confirm a definite therapeutic effect.

Despite this, the scientists found improvements in several of the secondary measures. According to the Developmental Behavior Checklist, children showed measurable gains in specific social relating skills. They also exhibited fewer signs of anxiety on this same checklist while taking the CBD oil compared to the placebo phase.

The benefits extended to the families as well. Parenting a child with autism tends to involve unique stressors, making family well-being an important aspect of pediatric care. Parents reported significantly lower levels of stress on the Autism Parenting Stress Index during the period their child was taking the active treatment. In contrast, adaptive behaviors like daily communication and basic life skills measured by the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales did not show any changes.

“In this pilot trial, CBD oil did not significantly improve our primary measure of social communication compared with placebo after 12 weeks,” Parrella told PsyPost. “However, we did observe improvements on some secondary measures, particularly improved social relating, reduced anxiety symptoms, and lower parenting stress. So, what we found is promising but quite preliminary – larger trials are still required.”

The CBD oil was generally very well tolerated by the children during the duration of the trial. Only two participants experienced mild stomach discomfort while taking the active treatment. One of these children, who had pre-existing stomach issues, withdrew from the study early, while the other felt better after a week and safely continued the treatment.

“Gastrointestinal discomfort was the main side effect reported in a small number of participants, but it is possible that the carrier MCT oil contributed in these cases,” Parrella said.

While these early findings offer hope, the researchers caution against misinterpreting the results as definitive proof that CBD is an effective autism treatment. Because this was a small pilot study, the results are preliminary and cannot be generalized to all autistic children. The scientists stress that any use of cannabinoid products in children should always occur under appropriate medical supervision.

Additionally, the wide variety of CBD products available to the public means that store-bought oils might not have the same ingredients or effects as the specific medical-grade formula used in this research.

Moving forward, the scientists plan to conduct larger trials across multiple clinics to see if these anxiety and social relating benefits hold up in a bigger, more diverse group of children. Future studies will likely explore whether adjusting the dosage could reduce stomach issues while maintaining the positive behavioral effects.

The researchers also hope to investigate whether the observed improvements in social skills are a direct result of the CBD or a byproduct of the child feeling less anxious overall. It is possible that a child who feels calmer is naturally more willing to engage in social interactions. By examining these nuances, the scientific community can better understand who might benefit most from this type of intervention.

“There is a real need to further explore the extent to which reduced anxiety might mediate the effect of CBD on social relating, and other individual differences such as gender, degree of social relating difficulties, and intellectual disability,” Parrella said. “We are actively seeking funding to run a larger placebo-controlled trials to tests this!”

The study, “Effects of Cannabidiol on Social Relating, Anxiety, and Parental Stress in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial,” was authored by Nina-Francesca Parrella, Aron T. Hill, Peter G. Enticott, Tanita Botha, Sarah Catchlove, Luke Downey, and Talitha C. Ford.