About
People are well aware of the health benefits of the compound called CBD that is derived from the marijuana plant. Even with some people wanting to restrict the use because of the association with the plant it comes from, it is well known to not cause someone to get high. As such, the medical community is working hard to find all the ways the compound can be used to help people. One of these areas is to help people with autism with the violence that sometimes happens because of this disease. The study is from understanding CBD oil and epilepsy.
The Study
A new study on the effects that CBD has on kids with autism is underway at the University of California at San Diego. The study is being conducted by the pediatric neurologist Dr. Doris Trauner to see if the more violent behavior of autistic behavior can be controlled with the substance. This study is using some of the information that was gained with how CBD affects the mental processes of those with epilepsy and looks to see if it will do the same with severe autism. They are looking to stop self harm and similar problems kids have.
CBD Oil
Most of the uses of marijuana are not recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration, though they do approve chemicals that do the same thing. CBD oil has been approved for use by children that suffer the effects of epilepsy. There have been studies into other areas to see what the FDA will approve it for that can help, which is why Dr. Trauner is working to see if it can be useful. CBD is short for cannibidiol and has none of the psychoactive THC that helps people get hungry when they have cancer or other diseases.
Two Phases
Because autism impacts males and females differently, the UCSD study under Dr. Trauner is going to have two approaches concerning this difference. Males are affected far more than females, so the study will be broken up into a phase to study 30 males between 7 and 14. As they are working on that, they will also be working with girls in a separate study to see how it affects them. This will help with seeing about the gender differences and hopefully make a more complete study. The severe effects of autism could be for different reasons in each.
The Study
When the young people are selected, which is based on intelligence level, level of severe issues, and other criteria, they will then go through with getting either CBD oil or placebos. This will be given to the participants for an eight week period, which will then be followed by a four week period of not taking anything. They will then be given doses of what they had not been given. There will be regular medical exams throughout the process to see how the kids are reacting to what they are given to see how the oil effects the autism.
Autism is not as understood as it should be and there are many areas where people with it need some help. That is what Dr. Trauner is attempting with this study, as those with the more severe problems can be harmful to themselves and others. This study may not find any answers, but it should be one of the ones that works to understand an aspect that is scary for anyone with a loved one that has this disease. This study does have potential, but it will take a while to distill all the information into something that can be a benefit for the future.
