Phase 2 Completed N=16 Randomized Treatment

Cannabinoid Medication for Adults With OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02911324 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Feb 2020

Primary outcomePrimary: Change in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale — 24.0; 14.2; 2.5; 11.2 score on a scale

Summary

The purpose of this pilot research study is to test the effects of a medication called nabilone (Cesamet) in adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Participants will receive either nabilone on its own, or nabilone in combination with a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) called exposure and response prevention (EX/RP). Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid and acts on the brain's "endocannabinoid system," which has been hypothesized to play a role in OCD. Nabilone is approved by the FDA for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is not FDA-approved for treating OCD.

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Change in Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale	24.0; 14.2; 2.5; 11.2	—
SECONDARY Feasibility of Recruitment	0.73	—

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18-60
Physically healthy, not pregnant
Primary Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Patient off all psychotropic (except selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]) and other types of drugs likely to interact with nabilone
Ability to provide informed consent
Ability to tolerate a treatment free-period

Exclusion Criteria

History of any significant medical condition that may increase the risk of participation
Females who are pregnant or nursing
Current or lifetime history of psychiatric disorders other than OCD that may increase the risk of participation (e.g. lifetime psychosis or bipolar disorder)
Current substance use disorder or positive urine toxicology at screening, or any adverse reaction to a cannabinoid
Patients already receiving EX/RP

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02911324). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.