Cannabis compound may help frontline health workers avoid COVID-19 burnout
Randomised controlled trial: Subjects are randomly assigned to a test group, which receives the treatment, or a control group, which commonly receives a placebo. In 'blind' trials, participants do not know which group they are in; in ‘double blind’ trials, the experimenters do not know either. Blinding trials helps removes bias.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis component now widely used for medical purposes, could help reduce symptoms of burnout and emotional exhaustion in frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazilian researchers found that the treatment helped reduce exhaustion and burnout, however it also resulted in severe side effects in around 1 in 20 of the treatment group. The authors say it is necessary to balance the benefits of CBD therapy with potential undesired or adverse effects, and further studies are needed.
Journal/conference: JAMA Network Open
Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20603
Organisation/s: University of São Paulo, Brazil
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