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Investigating Epidiolex for Social Anxiety Disorder

This study is looking into whether a single dose of Epidiolex (cannabidiol), a medication, can help reduce anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder (SAD). You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 55 years old, speak English, and are right-hand dominant. The study aims to see if Epidiolex can lower your anxiety levels, which will be measured at several points before and after a stress test. There are 50 spots available in this study, but its current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, meaning participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Epidiolex or a placebo (sesame seed oil) without knowing which they received. About 50 participants will be enrolled.
What's involved
You will receive a single dose of either Epidiolex or a placebo, then undergo a stress test. Your anxiety levels will be measured at several time points around the stress test, and you will have brain imaging (fMRI) afterwards.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your anxiety will be measured up to 30 minutes after the stress test. It is not specified if there are any follow-up visits after this.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05649059

Investigating the Effects of Cannabidiol on Social Anxiety Disorder

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 18–55Interventional
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
~50 participants
Updated 2026-08-11 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:CannabidiolPlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Acute Subjective Anxiety
Measured over -180 minutes, -15 minutes, -5 minutes, +10 minutes, +20 minutes, +30 minutes

Conditions

Phobia, Social

Explore related trials

Social Anxiety Disorder

NCT05649059

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

    Cambridge, Massachusettsstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • John Gabrieli, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Who to contact

Omar Rutledge, MS
[email protected]
617-324-2898
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.
Sufficiently fluent in English to participate in the trial.
Between 18-55 years of age (inclusive).
Right-hand dominant.
Current medications are stable for past 30 days (no changes to dose or frequency).
Negative result on pregnancy test (if female).
Negative result on urine drug screening.
Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS ≥ 60).

Exclusion

History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, delusional disorders.
History of eating disorder within past 6 months.
History of any traumatic brain injury.
Currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
Presence of severe medical illness that would prevent completion of study procedures.
Presence of significant neurological illness or cognitive dysfunction (e.g.; seizures, dementia).
History of substance use disorder within past 6 months (other than nicotine and caffeine).
Use of any cannabis-containing products in past 30 days (CBD or THC).
Use of benzodiazepines in past 2 weeks.
Use of alpha- or beta-blockers in past week.
History of claustrophobia.
Contraindications for MRI (e.g.; shrapnel).
Presence of any other medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with the study procedures.
Use of concomitant medication that has a strong interaction with CBD.
History of liver disease.
History of hypersensitivity to cannabinoids.
History of hypersensitivity to sesame seed oil.
Currently breastfeeding (if female).

What this trial measures

  • Change in Acute Subjective Anxiety-180 minutes, -15 minutes, -5 minutes, +10 minutes, +20 minutes, +30 minutes

    Subjective anxiety will be assessed with a modified Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAMS) which utilizes a vertical 100 millimeter (mm) bipolar visual scale between two opposing moods consisting of the following word pairs: calm-excited, relaxed-tense, and tranquil-troubled. Total subjective anxiety for each timepoint will be the average distance from the top for the three-question battery. VAMS will be assessed 15 minutes before drug administration (-180 minutes before start of TSST), 150 minutes after drug administration (-15 minutes before start of TSST), after the Anticipation Phase (-5 minutes before start of TSST), after the Stress Procedures (+10 minutes after start of TSST), after 5 minutes in the Recovery Phase (+20 minutes after start of TSST), and 15 minutes after start of the Recovery Phase (+30 minutes after start of TSST).