What role can CBD play in supporting mental health? Get an expert’s perspective

• Mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are on the rise worldwide, driven by global instability, the COVID-19 pandemic and social media, among other factors.
• Having already proved successful in supporting other conditions, the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of mental health disorders is being increasingly investigated.
• Discover how CBD could help support patient mental health and wellbeing on a global scale with dsm-firmenich's Clinical Project Scientist, Mariana Coelho.

Why mental health disorders are on the rise

It is estimated that 5-10% of people suffer from anxiety-related disorders globally, impacting their quality of life and the wider society.¹ There has been a significant increase in mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, over the past decade due to a number of factors including global instability, the COVID-19 pandemic and social media, to name a few. Some existing treatments can have unpleasant side effects, which is why there is a real need for novel molecules and treatments to be developed in this field. This is where CBD could be a promising candidate.

The promising role of CBD in the treatment of mental health disorders

CBD has already been approved for the treatment of several epilepsy syndromes and there are many other studies currently being undertaken across central nervous system diseases and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. A recent review on CBD and psychiatric disorders described CBD as a generally safe and well-tolerated pharmacotherapy with limited abuse liability, putting it in a good position for being a suitable treatment for psychiatric conditions.² However, there is still a need for further, well-designed and adequately powered longitudinal studies to confirm this.

CBD is commonly used to manage psychiatric symptoms. However, recent evidence has shown that up to 50% of psychiatric patients who use CBD do not report this to their doctors.³ This highlights the perceived efficacy of CBD by consumers and the potential risks of unregulated, poor-quality CBD. Low-quality CBD products, which might contain THC or with a composition that does not match label descriptions, are commercially widespread and there is clearly an unmet need for high-quality products and new effective therapeutics.

How to unlock the potential of CBD

In order to help manufacturers realize the full potential of CBD-based therapies, dsm-firmenich has created an innovation platform that facilitates early-stage drug development. Through an exclusive strategic partnership with CBD pioneer, Brains Bioceutical, dsm-firmenich can help innovators explore the therapeutic potential of CBD as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), manufactured in a Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) facility. 

With over 70 years’ worth of experience in producing and securing the supply of quality APIs, paired with unique expert services and customized solutions, dsm-firmenich is an ideal partner for the development of purpose-led CBD-based pharmaceuticals that can support patient mental health and wellbeing on a global scale. 

The CBD market is full of promise, but it takes more than ingredients to enter the CBD market with confidence. It takes a partner.