New research presented at the 2025 European Congress of Psychiatry reveals that the use of cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extract can lead to meaningful benefits and improve the behavior of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD affects approximately 1 in 100 children around the world and symptoms can include difficulty interpreting language, difficulty expressing emotions, and repetitive behavior and routines.
The meta-analysis included randomized, placebo-controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of CBD cannabis extracts in children and adolescents with ASD. Three studies were used in total with 276 participants with a mean age of 10.5, ranging in age from 5 to 21. The dosage of CBD cannabis extract started at 1 mg/kg per day and was titrated up to 10 mg/kg.
Key findings from the study include:
CBD cannabis extract use shows moderate improvements in social responsiveness and small yet notable reductions in disruptive behaviours and anxiety
CBD cannabis extract significantly enhanced social responsiveness, reduced disruptive behaviour and alleviated anxiety while also improving sleep quality
The use of CBD cannabis extract has a favourable safety profile as it did not increase adverse events compared to placebo
There were no significant differences between adverse events in CBD cannabis extract versus placebo
Read the full article at Medical News
