CBD for Burnout and Exhaustion: New Study Shows Efficacy

For many years now, CBD has been considered an important candidate in the fight against chronic stress and tension. In a 2021 study, a Brazilian research team was able to show that CBD can help with typical burnout symptoms such as emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depressive moods.

We'll examine the study's design and whether its results can be applied to everyday life.

Many people today complain about high stress levels and strong psychological strain. Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, exhaustion, and emotional emptiness can be the result. If these symptoms persist, they are clear warning signs that one is heading for burnout.

Burnout is mentioned for the first time in the ICD-11 system, which categorizes medical diagnoses. The syndrome was not yet included in the previous ICD-10 system. The ICD-11 defines burnout not as a disease or mental illness, but as a "factor influencing health status and leading to contact with health services."

Burnout syndrome is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, and feelings of being overwhelmed at work or in daily life. Typical symptoms include chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, reduced engagement, as well as feelings of alienation and inadequacy.

The definition is based on a 2014 study, in which the authors developed, among other things, the so-called Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS) to classify the severity of the symptoms ².

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant that primarily acts on the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS consists of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), receptors (CB1, CB2), and enzymes that regulate the production and breakdown of endocannabinoids. CBD primarily interacts with CB1 and CB2 receptors, but not directly. Instead, it influences the activity of enzymes and increases the availability of endogenous cannabinoids, which can lead to a reduction in pain, inflammation, and an improvement in mood.

CBD has potential therapeutic effects in a variety of conditions, including anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep disorders, by supporting balance within the ECS. Furthermore, studies suggest it can stimulate the body's system to adapt better to stressful situations ³.

The COVID-19 pandemic had serious consequences, especially for nursing staff and doctors. The high strain led to an increase in physical and emotional exhaustion among all those fighting on the front lines against the effects of the pandemic. In some cases, the symptoms even extended to post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, and depression - and classic burnout symptoms.

The so-called BONSAI study ("Burnout and Distress Prevention With Cannabidiol in Front-line Health Care Workers Dealing With COVID-19") examined 120 clinic employees who had been exposed to significant stress during the pandemic ¹.

The study participants were on average 34 years old, two-thirds were women, and a significant portion, about 25%, were already receiving support from psychotherapists or psychiatrists at the time. To measure emotional exhaustion, the MBI-HSS mentioned above was used. While the maximum of the scale is 54, the study participants achieved an average score of 30 points.

The subject of the study was whether the intake of CBD could alleviate burnout symptoms. The researchers investigated the antidepressant and anxiolytic potential of CBD for this purpose.

While one group received 300 mg of cannabidiol (CBD) per day in two doses over one month, the second group received no CBD. They only continued to receive the psychological care that the first group also received. The study was single-blinded - meaning the treating doctors and psychologists did not know which group received cannabidiol and which did not. The researchers, however, were informed about who received CBD and who did not.

Already two weeks after the start of the study, the CBD group showed a significant improvement in their psychological well-being. The MBI-HSS score decreased by an average of four points and remained at this level until the end of the study. In the control group, however, the score had worsened by two to three points by the end.

Particularly striking: typical burnout symptoms decreased noticeably. While 41% of the CBD group still met the ICD-11 criteria for burnout at the beginning of the study, this proportion decreased to 29% by the end of the study. In the control group, however, the proportion increased from 30% to 39%.

Anxiety and depression also decreased significantly in the CBD group, while they either remained unchanged or even worsened in the control group.

In the article itself, the author team explains the limitations of their study. Particularly relevant: since the study was only single-blinded, the results could be biased. Also, the group of subjects was relatively small and limited to medical personnel.

Therefore, further investigations are absolutely necessary to confirm the results and to show whether the effectiveness of CBD for mental health and against burnout can be generalized. However, experience reports already show that CBD can play an important role in counteracting burnout.

The authors of the study are convinced: CBD can represent a promising, fast-acting and low-side-effect therapy option for the treatment and prevention of emotional exhaustion, burnout and mental illnesses.

Particularly important: CBD causes significantly fewer side effects than conventional antidepressants. In combination with a balanced work-life balance, CBD oil could help to better cope with everyday challenges and tasks.

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