Cannabidiol (CBD) and stress responses in young adults

Pathophysiological mechanisms of cannabidiol in stress regulation

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11324206

Seeing if cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce stress reactions in young adults who are at higher risk for stress-related problems.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11324206 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you're a young adult who experienced early-life adversity and notice strong reactions to stress, this research will offer chances to take controlled CBD doses while doctors measure how your body and brain respond to stress triggers. Researchers will track brain activity in emotion-related areas (like the amygdala) and stress hormones tied to the HPA axis during cue-triggered stress tasks. The team will combine human measures with related animal and lab findings to understand how CBD acts on stress pathways. Participation typically involves several clinic visits at Mount Sinai for scans, blood or saliva tests, and short behavioral tasks.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults (around age 21 and older) with a history of early-life adversity and heightened stress reactivity or early signs of stress-related disorders would be the best match.

Not a fit: People under 21, those without stress-related symptoms, or those with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to safer, more targeted ways to reduce cue-triggered stress reactions and guide new treatments for stress-related conditions.

How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies and small human studies suggest CBD can reduce anxiety and cue-induced reactivity, but human mechanisms and larger clinical effects remain incompletely tested.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.