Autism and CBD: Study Reveals Surprising Advances in Behavior and Socialization
- Lidi Garcia
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Recent research shows that cannabis extract with CBD can help children and adolescents with autism communicate better, reduce anxiety and improve behavior. In addition, the treatment appears to be safe, with no significant increase in side effects. Despite the positive results, experts emphasize that more studies are still needed to confirm these benefits.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects brain development and impacts how people communicate, behave and relate to others. It is estimated that about 1 to 3% of children and adolescents worldwide, including in the United States, are diagnosed with ASD.
Although there are some therapies and medications available, it is still a great challenge to find treatments that help improve symptoms safely and effectively.
In recent years, scientists have begun to investigate whether cannabidiol (CBD), one of the compounds present in the cannabis plant, could help people with autism spectrum disorder. Some initial evidence suggests that CBD can reduce symptoms such as anxiety, aggression and sleep problems.
However, until now, there has been no systematic analysis that pools data from different studies to better understand whether these effects are actually consistent and safe.
With this in mind, a group of researchers conducted a detailed review and combined analysis of clinical trials that tested the use of cannabis extract with CBD in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
They searched for studies in major scientific databases, such as MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane, without language or date restrictions, to ensure that no important data was missed.
In the end, they found three studies that met strict quality criteria, totaling 276 participants, most of them boys, between the ages of 5 and 21. In the studies analyzed, children and adolescents were given CBD-rich cannabis extracts orally.
In all cases, THC (the compound in cannabis responsible for the psychoactive effects) was present in minimal amounts. The dose of CBD started small and was gradually increased to a safe limit, monitored by the researchers.
The results were quite encouraging: the use of cannabis extract with CBD helped to improve the children's social interaction, that is, they began to respond better to social stimuli and communicate more appropriately.
A reduction in disruptive behavior (such as angry outbursts or inappropriate behavior) and anxiety was also observed. In addition, there were signs of improvement in sleep, although this last change was not considered statistically significant.
A very important issue was safety: the researchers found no significant increase in side effects between the group that took CBD and the group that took a placebo (a substance with no real effect). This suggests that the use of cannabis extract with CBD is relatively safe for this population, at least in the studies analyzed.
Experts such as researcher Lara Cappelletti Beneti Branco, from the University of São Paulo, emphasize that these findings are promising, especially because effective treatment options for ASD are still limited.
However, they emphasize that more studies, with larger groups of patients and long-term follow-ups, are still needed to confirm these results and better understand the potential of CBD as a therapeutic tool for autism.
In summary, cannabis extract with CBD may become a new hope for managing ASD symptoms in children and adolescents, but it is still necessary to proceed with caution, always ensuring the safety and well-being of patients.
READ MORE:
Autism (no date) World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders Last accessed: March 2025.
Mencap (2024) Autism (ASD), Mencap. Available at: https://www.mencap.org.uk/learning-disability-explained/learning-disability-and-conditions/autism-asdgad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8fW9BhC8ARIsACwHqYro9CB_YNhcPaCUZYefPZdp3BTGFKjpWsM7uRfdqUdd9Rt-32kD63QaAuBJEALw_wcB Last accessed: March 2025.
Full abstract:
Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol Cannabis Extracts for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum [EPA2025-ABS-3651]
Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects approximately 3% of children and adolescents in the U.S. This condition is increasingly prevalent worldwide and presents significant treatment challenges. Preliminary evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) cannabis extracts may help manage ASD symptoms, but their efficacy and potential harms have not yet been systematically investigated.
Objectives: To systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence from clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of CBD cannabis extracts in alleviating symptoms of ASD in children and adolescents.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using MeSH terms including “Autism Spectrum Disorder,” “Cannabidiol,” “Cannabis,” “Child,” and “Adolescents.” No language or publication date restrictions were applied. The search was last updated on September 8, 2024. We included randomized, placebo-controlled trials on the efficacy or safety of CBD cannabis extracts in children and adolescents with ASD. For outcomes with limited study data, we used a fixed-effects model. The risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated using the Risk of Bias 2 tool.
Results: Three studies met our criteria, comprising 276 participants (78.3% male; mean age 10.5 years, range 5 to 21). Interventions included orally administered CBD cannabis extracts, with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) present in minimal amounts or in ratios of 9:1 to 20:1 CBD to THC. Dosages of CBD started at 1 mg/kg per day and were titrated up to 10 mg/kg per day. CBD cannabis extracts significantly enhanced social responsiveness (SMD = -0.75 [-1.08, -0.43], p < 0.01, I² = 17%), reduced disruptive behavior (SMD = -0.36 [-0.67, -0.06], p = 0.02, I² = 0%), and alleviated anxiety (SMD = -0.33 [-0.63, -0.03], p = 0.03, I² = 59%). CBD cannabis extracts also improved sleep quality, without reaching statistical significance (SMD = -0.19 [-0.49, 0.11], p = 0.21, I² = 0%). There was no significant difference in adverse effects between interventions and placebo (odds ratio = 2.11 [1.00, 4.46], p = 0.05, I² = 38%).
Conclusions: CBD cannabis extracts appear to provide meaningful benefits for children and adolescents with ASD, showing moderate improvements in social responsiveness and small yet notable reductions in disruptive behaviors and anxiety. They do not seem to significantly increase adverse effects compared to placebo, suggesting a favorable safety profile. These findings support the potential consideration of CBD cannabis extracts in ASD treatment plans. However, the review’s limitations include a small number of studies, limited sample sizes, and significant heterogeneity. Future research with larger, robust trials is needed to clarify the efficacy and safety of CBD cannabis extracts in managing ASD.
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