# Cannabidiol treatment in hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

> **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637)
> **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com)
> **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/research/cbd-for-arthritis-randomized-controlled-trial/
> **Published:** 2026-10-10T22:58:27-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-10-20T13:35:02-04:00
> **Clinical Summary:** Low-dose oral synthetic cannabidiol (20-30 mg daily) failed to provide clinically meaningful pain relief or improve sleep and mood scores compared to.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is increasingly used as analgesic medication although the recent International Association for the Study of Pain Presidential Task Force on cannabis and cannabinoid analgesia found a lack of trials examining CBD for pain management. This trial examines CBD as add-on analgesic therapy in patients with hand osteoarthritis or psoriatic arthritis experiencing moderate pain intensity despite therapy. Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, patients received synthetic CBD 20 to 30 mg or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was pain intensity during the past 24 hours (0-100 mm); safety outcomes were percentage of patients experiencing adverse events and a characterization of serious adverse events. Explorative outcomes included change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. One hundred thirty-six patients were randomized, of which 129 were included in the primary analysis. Between-group difference in pain intensity at 12 weeks was 0.23 mm (95% confidence interval -9.41 to 9.90; P = 0.96). Twenty-two percent patients receiving CBD and 21% receiving placebo experienced a reduction in pain intensity of more than 30 mm. We found neither clinically nor statistically significant effects of CBD for pain intensity in patients with hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis when compared with placebo. In addition, no statistically significant effects were found on sleep quality, depression, anxiety, or pain catastrophizing scores.

 

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### Verification & Medical Governance

- **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD
- **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House).
- **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`).
- **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/).
- **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637).
- **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).