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RecruitingNCT07069478Updated Jul 22, 2026

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Stress Response: Psychobiological Mechanisms

An interventional study of Stress Intervention in CBD, Cannabidiol and Stress, sponsored by University of Minnesota. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 70 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-22.

Sponsored by University of Minnesota · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
125
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
21 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of regular cannabidiol (CBD) use on the psychobiological mechanisms of the stress response. This will be achieved by comparing acute stress responses of adults who either use or do not use CBD regularly. Correlates of CBD use, including tobacco use, will be collected.

02

Conditions studied

  • CBD
  • Cannabidiol
  • Stress
  • Acute Stress Reaction

Keywords

  • cardiovascular reactivity, , , ,
  • hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
  • stress
  • mood
  • CBD use
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
21 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults who are relatively healthy and aged 21-70 years.
  • Must keep a normal sleep schedule (sleep during nighttime, awake during daytime).
  • Must either (1) use CBD daily/regularly or (2) not use CBD regularly.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participated in previous acute stress studies that included a similar stress induction.
  • Current, unstable: major psychiatric disorder or medical condition (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension above 160/100).
  • Self-reported current pregnancy.
  • Self-reported current use of illicit substances (other than cannabis).
  • Non-compliance with instructions for study visit (abstinence from alcohol, caffeine, physical activity, etc.)
  • Students of the principal researcher
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
125 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Experimental group

    Participants will include CBD users and non users

    Other: Stress Intervention

Interventions

  • OtherStress Intervention

    Experimental Stress: Behavioral induction of acute psychosocial and physiological stress. First, participants will be provided with a speech topic and given 4 minutes to prepare a speech that they subsequently deliver in front of evaluators and a video recorder. Then, participants will complete a mental arithmetic task in front of the evaluators for 8 minutes. Then, participants will complete a cold pressor task in which they submerge their hand in ice water for 90 seconds.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in subjective states (stress, anxiety, positive affect)

    Participants will self-report the extent to which they have felt stressed, overwhelmed, anxious/nervous, cheerful, and happy during the last 30 minutes before acute stress, immediately after acute stress, and after a recovery period. The Subjective States Questionnaire will be used to score responses. The minimum values are 0 (not at all) and the maximum values are 7 (very strongly). Higher scores mean more stress, more anxiety, and more positive affect.

    Time frame: 2.5 hours

  2. Change in cardiovascular activity and cortisol

    Saliva will be collected (for later cortisol assays) and cardiovascular activity will be measured before, during, and after acute stress.

    Time frame: 2.5 hours

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • University of Minnesota
    Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
    • Stress and Resilience Research Labs · Contact · umdbml@d.umn.edu · 218-726-8623
    Recruiting
07

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07069478
Lead sponsor
University of Minnesota
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 16, 2025
Start date
Jun 16, 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Last update
Jul 22, 2026

Study contacts

Stress and Resilience Research Labs
Contact
umdbml@d.umn.edu
2187268623
Mustafa al'Absi
principal investigator · University of Minnesota

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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