385 Combining Cannabidiol with Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Design and Methodology of a Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: There is increasing evidence that cannabidiol (CBD) has promising potential to treat PTSD. However, more research is warranted to fully understand the benefits of CBD for PTSD. This poster will describe the design and methodology of one of the first ever pilot RCTs examining CBD (vs. placebo) combined with prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study is an early Phase II double-blind, pilot RCT. Participants are 24 individuals 18-65 years old who meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD on the CAPS-5 and were recruited from local hospitals and the community. Individuals complete a standardized baseline assessment with an independent evaluator to assess study eligibility. Participants who meet study inclusion are randomized to 18 days of CBD 250mg (BID) or placebo delivered in combination with 10-sessions Prolonged Exposure (PE) psychotherapy over 2 weeks. Individuals begin medication 3 days prior to beginning PE to ensure steady state. Participants complete self-report and biomarker outcomes at select timepoints during study participation, and are also asked to complete a 1-month follow-up assessment following treatment. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: This aims of this study are to: 1) examine the safety, feasibility, and PTSD symptom reductions associated with the combined intervention; 2) evaluate biomarkers associated with the endocannabinoid system and stress response; 3) determine the association between changes in biomarkers and PTSD symptoms following treatment. It is expected that CBD+PE will be safe and feasible, and that there will be a detectable signal of CBD vs. placebo in the reduction of PTSD symptoms. It is also anticipated that CBD will have higher levels of endocannabinoids and lower stress response levels compared to placebo. Lastly, we expect that greater changes in biomarkers will be associated with lower levels of PTSD severity following treatment. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Although there is growing interest in cannabinoids for psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD, controlled trials are limited and have yet to examine the proposed intervention for PTSD. If successful, this study will enhance the feasibility of a larger, adequately powered RCT to address immediate and long-term improvements for PTSD treatments.