A recent study published in Nature: Molecular Psychiatry, revealed exciting data findings that were witnessed in a double-blind randomised controlled ICONIC trial that researched the connection between cannabidiol (CBD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). According to the study, alcohol use disorder a significant amount of alcohol use disorder patients’ relapse, and this still occurs when they are utilising pharmacological treatments. Researchers wanted to explore other alternatives which led them to investigating how CBD can be used to help those suffering with this disorder.
To gather participants, researchers utilised social media, online, and newsletter advertisements to find non-treatment-seeking participants with mild to severe AUD and were between the ages of 18 to 60 years-old. From there, potential participants were vetted through telephone interviews and if they met the study criteria, were scheduled for further screening at an on-site visit. Researchers utilised the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 “to confirm the diagnosis of an AUD and to rule out any other substance use disorder (except tobacco use disorder) and severe psychiatric conditions”.