Deakin University HPS111 Essay: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Mental Disorders

This argumentative essay, written by a student, delves into the therapeutic potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) in treating various mental disorders. The essay begins by highlighting the prevalence of anxiety and depression and their impact on individuals' lives. It then explores the promising initial studies on CBD as a treatment for these conditions, noting its potential for fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments. The paper discusses CBD's mechanism of action, including its interaction with cannabinoid receptors, and its effects on stress, heart rate, and blood pressure. While acknowledging the potential benefits, the essay also addresses the limitations of current research, including the need for more extensive clinical trials to assess CBD's effectiveness and safety. The essay also examines the potential side effects of CBD, such as nausea and fatigue, and its interactions with other medications. Furthermore, it considers the risks associated with cannabis use, particularly for young adults, and emphasizes the importance of monitoring individuals for both positive and negative psychological health effects. The conclusion reaffirms CBD's potential in reducing symptoms of mental disorders while emphasizing the need for further research and careful monitoring.

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 1
Cannabidiol or CBD in treating mental disorders
Name of the Student: Jinal Sejpal
Student ID #: 218337804
Word Count: 1208
Unit Submitted for: HPS111
Unit Chair: Mathew Ling
Author Declaration:
I, Jinal Sejpal declare that at I am the sole author of the following work submitted as part of the
assessment in HPS111. Particularly, I have not colluded with other students in the completion of
this work; I have not duplicated work of my peers or from sources such as books, journal
articles, or websites without adaptation and due citation; and I have not contracted a third-party
to complete any component of this assessment on my behalf. I acknowledge that any of these
activities would constitute Academic Misconduct as defined by Regulation 4.1(2) of Deakin
University and may consequently attract penalties as defined in Schedule A: Penalties for
Student Academic Misconduct.

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 2
Abstract
Stress is known as a serious contributor to anxiety illnesses as well as traumatic stress to the
growth of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depression with anxiety disorders is considered
to be common mental health illnesses which have a tendency to have continuing effects on health
conditions in addition to social life as well as capacity to function with general health of
individuals. CBD in recent times has been showing promising impact in initial studies as a
treatment for both depression as well as anxiety and is likely to cause fewer side effects in some
individuals. Cannabidiol illustrates important results in support of the treatment of seizure
illnesses mainly related to drug resistant childhood epilepsy. Nonetheless, CBD fails to show
compensating properties of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), accordingly there cannot be found any
certain cause for anxiety regarding addiction in the youths. There has been found certain side
effects of CBD consisting of nausea, fatigue besides bad temper. CBD be likely to upsurge the
level in blood of the blood thinner Coumadin besides further increases stages of particular other
treatments. Accordingly, inclusive clinical investigation is important in the treatment and result
of CBD on hepatic enzymes as well as connections with other types of drugs. CBDs are chiefly
seen as a major treatment for numerous mental illnesses. Studies have claimed that use of
therapeutic cannabinoid which have been official in countries will practically attain higher
demand for these types of treatments. Moreover, clinicians as well as users need to act
responsive about the minor amount of suggestion for the utility of therapeutic cannabinoids in
delivering appropriate treatment of psychological illnesses as well as the likely threat of adverse
actions. The paper has argued and supported that Cannabidiol or CBD is a natural compound
which has recently gained utmost prominence in treating mental disorders.

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 3
Cannabidiol or CBD in treating mental disorders
The non-psychoactive cannabinoid element, cannabidiol (CBD) is known as a highly
effective tool in the dealing of psychotic disorder. As per studies, depression
and anxiety disorders are known as common mental health conditions which tend to have long-
term effects on health conditions, social life as well as general health of individuals. CBD has
been showing promising impact in initial studies as a treatment for both depression as well as
anxiety and tends to cause fewer side effects in some individuals (Das et al., 2013). Different
permutations of symptoms as well as comorbidity result in different clinical summaries and
treatment requirements. On the other hand, two-thirds of patients tend to face suboptimal
reaction with dopaminergic treatment. Thus, there is an imperative need for alternative with
highly effectual pharmacological involvements purposed to lessen the pressure of complex as
well as corresponding system profiles (Rong et al., 2017). The thesis statement of the essay is,
“Cannabidiol or CBD is a natural compound which has recently gained utmost prominence in
treating mental disorders.”
People suffering from anxiety disorders tend to seek medical assistance. They are more
likely to go through medical intervention for psychiatric disorders than the ones who do not
suffer from anxiety disorders (Black et al., 2019). It has been found that stress is critical provider
to anxiety illnesses as well as traumatic stress disclosure is vital to the growth of post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Systemically administered CBD tend to effectively lessen acute upsurges
in heart rate and level of blood pressure that are prompted by control stress besides as the
delayed or 24 hours anxiogenic effects of stress in the elevated plus maze (EPM) at a partial
rate of 5-HT1AR activation (Das et al., 2013). Furthermore, studies have claimed that CBD at a
considerable level through CB1Rs has significantly lessened defensive immovability in addition

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 4
to explosive outflow which are instigated by bicuculline-induced neuronal activation in the
greater colliculus (Blessing et al., 2015). CBD comprises of broad pharmacological profile
involving linkages with number of receptors chiefly regulating fear as well as anxiety-related
behavioural patterns, particularly the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) and the transient
receptor potential (TRP) vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptor (Blessing et al., 2015). Furthermore,
CBD may further control, openly or indirectly with additional TRP networks as well as glycine
receptors. Studies have claimed that CBD have the ability of decreasing constructive, undesirable
as well as cognitive signs in psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia, ache as well as removal of
substance use disorders (SUD) (Batalla et al., 2019). However, it has been found that majority of
the studies exhibited likely outcomes in treating mental disorders in addition to the use of
parallel medication which show challenges of explaining particular subdivisions whereby CBD
must be administered. Meanwhile, it has been claimed that cannabis shows great propensity of
lessening intraocular stress and consequently has been used on glaucoma.
Comprehensive study has mentioned that cannabidiol shows significant results in
support of the treatment of seizure illnesses particularly related to drug resistant childhood
epilepsy (Das et al., 2013). However, CBD fails to show recompensing properties of
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), thus there cannot be found any certain cause for anxiety regarding
addiction in the youths (Basu & Basu, 2018). On the contrary, it has been argued that superior
scale, placebocontrolled, clinical studies are essential in order to consider the impacts of CBD in
the form of an aide while treating psychological illnesses. As a result, additional extensive
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) is essential to successfully assess the effectiveness of CBD
in acute as well as chronic disorders, special groupings and further to eliminate or avoid any
possible abuse problem.

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 5
Despite these positive factors, CBD shows certain side effects like nausea, fatigue besides
irritability. CBD tend to upsurge the level in blood of the blood thinner Coumadin and further
upsurges levels of particular other medications (Blessing et al., 2015). As a result,
comprehensive clinical research is essential in the usage and outcome of CBD on hepatic
enzymes as well as interactions with other types of drugs. This tends to have either positive or
negative effects such as reduction of the essential clobazam dosages in epilepsy consequently
increasing its level of side effects. On the other hand, it has been claimed that use of one
cannabinoid tends to be inferior to the amalgamation of cannabinoids explained as the ‘entourage
impact’ (Bonaccorso et al., 2019). Such as effect further explains that a synergism within number
of cannabinoids with additional phototherapeutic agents associated with terpenoids tend to
contribute to the ultimate therapeutic result of cannabis extracts.
CBD use show tendency of raising the occurrence of mental disorders along with anxiety
and psychotic symptoms. Studies of the risks related to cannabis have not been resultant to
observational studies of individuals using cannabis in non-medical terms. Furthermore, young
adults tend to be at highest level of risk of experiencing depression, anxiety as well as psychosis
particularly the ones who use cannabis on regular basis over prolonged period (Naftali et al.,
2017). Nevertheless, such risks require to be evaluated while taking into consideration usage of
medicinal cannabinoids in order to treat symptoms of common psychological disorders. Studies
have claimed that individuals who show inclination in proceeding with CBD must be diligently
monitored for constructive as well as negative psychological health effects of taking dosage of
medicinal cannabinoids (Crippa et al., 2011).
CBDs are chiefly seen as a major treatment for numerous mental illnesses. Studies have
claimed that use of medicinal cannabinoid which have been authorized by countries will almost

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 6
certainly attain elevated demand for these types of usages. Furthermore, clinicians as well as
consumers require being responsive about the insignificant amount of indication for the
usefulness of medicinal cannabinoids in delivering proper management of psychological
disorders as well as the probable danger of adverse actions . While taking into consideration the
effectiveness of CBD in psychological illnesses, it can be noted that CBD must be in effect
particularly while dealing comorbidity (Batalla et al., 2019). Moreover, studies have posited that
CBD’s anxiolytic effects chiefly involving low amygdala stimulation in addition to changed
medial prefrontal amygdala connectivity (Crippa et al., 2011). It has further been claimed that
while CBD mainly shows acute anxiolytic influences, number of species discrepancies are likely
to be evident. Moreover, impacts are likely to be contingent on previous stress levels and thus
diverge as per the region of brain. Significant distinction between CBD with other agents has
been found that focus on the eCB system that includes THC in addition to direct CB1R agonists
as well as FAAH inhibitors which are seen as a lack of anxiogenic effects at an advanced dosage
(Crippa et al., 2011).
Hence to conclude, CBD has been effectively reducing acute surges in heart rate as well
as blood pressure that are induced by control stress. CBD further regulate, openly or indirectly
with additional TRP systems as well as glycine receptors. Additionally, it has been claimed that
cannabis shows great propensity of lessening intraocular stress and consequently has been used
on glaucoma. Thus it has been claimed that CBD has the capacity of reducing constructive,
unwanted as well as cognitive signs in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia along with
yearning as well as deduction of substance use disorders (SUD).

CANNABINOID AND MENTAL DISORDER 7
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