Investigating the Effects of Cannabidiol on Social Anxiety Disorder

Inclusion criteria

• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.
• Sufficiently fluent in English to participate in the trial.
• Between 18-55 years of age (inclusive).
• Right-hand dominant.
• Current medications are stable for past 30 days (no changes to dose or frequency).
• Negative result on pregnancy test (if female).
• Negative result on urine drug screening.
• Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS ≥ 60).

Exclusion criteria

• History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, delusional disorders.
• History of eating disorder within past 6 months.
• History of any traumatic brain injury.
• Currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
• Presence of severe medical illness that would prevent completion of study procedures.
• Presence of significant neurological illness or cognitive dysfunction (e.g.; seizures, dementia).
• History of substance use disorder within past 6 months (other than nicotine and caffeine).
• Use of any cannabis-containing products in past 30 days (CBD or THC).
• Use of benzodiazepines in past 2 weeks.
• Use of alpha- or beta-blockers in past week.
• History of claustrophobia.
• Contraindications for MRI (e.g.; shrapnel).
• Presence of any other medical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, may interfere with the study procedures.
• Use of concomitant medication that has a strong interaction with CBD.
• History of liver disease.
• History of hypersensitivity to cannabinoids.
• History of hypersensitivity to sesame seed oil.
• Currently breastfeeding (if female).