“Introduction: Medical cannabis has gained growing attention as a potential treatment for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly in cases where conventional pharmacological approaches have proven ineffective. Emerging evidence suggests that cannabinoid-based therapies may alleviate Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) related symptoms in children with ASD. The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in ADHD symptoms over six months of treatment with a CBD-rich cannabis oil, using the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale as the assessment tool.
Methods: This was a prospective, single-arm, open-label study conducted at a single center. A total of 109 children and young adults diagnosed with ASD and ADHD symptoms were recruited between November 2019 and April 2021. Of these, 53 participants were assessed by their schoolteachers using the Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS) questionnaire, both before and after a three- to sixmonth treatment period with a CBD-rich, cannabis oil-based product. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment to measure cannabinoid levels, including CBD, 6-OH-CBD, 7-COOHCBD, and 7-OH-CBD.
Results: Significant improvements were observed in the following categories: anxious-shyness, perfectionism, ADHD index, emotional lability, and hyperactivity-impulsivity (p < 0.001). Additional trends toward improvement were identified in oppositional behavior (p = 0.009), cognitive inattention (p = 0.009), hyperactivity (p = 0.006), the Conners’ Global Index (p = 0.007), and DSM-IV inattention scores (p = 0.003). No significant correlations were found between cannabinoid dosage or blood levels and changes in CTRS scores, except for emotional lability, where higher CBD concentrations were predictive of greater symptom improvement.
Discussion: This is the first prospective study to evaluate the effects of CBD-rich cannabis on ADHD symptoms in children with ASD using standardized teacher-based Assessments (CTRS). The findings indicate improvements in core behavioral domains. While previous studies have focused primarily on parent-reported outcomes or small-scale trials, our results support emerging evidence on the role of cannabinoids in modulating attention and emotional regulation. The main limitations of the study were its open-label design.
Conclusion: CBD-rich cannabis oil may reduce ADHD symptoms in children with ASD. These findings support the need for future clinical trials to validate efficacy and determine optimal dosing.”