Table 2. Treatment Testimonials for CBD as Reported by CBD Users on Reddit.
| Treated conditiona | Subcategoriesa | Relevant content from example postsb | Category prevalence, % (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosable condition | |||
| Psychiatric conditions | Attention deficit disorder, anxiety disorder, autism spectrum disorder, mood disorders (manic or depressive), borderline personality disorder, dissociation disorder, depersonalization disorder, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, symptoms of psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizotypal personality disorder | “After using CBD for 2 mo, my autism symptoms have improved. My family has noticed great improvements and I have finally been able to attend important social events.” | 63.9 (59.0-69.1) |
| Orthopedic conditions | Arthritis, ganglion cyst reduction, herniated disc, inflammation, muscle tension, muscle cramps, musculoskeletal pain, piriformis syndrome, sciatica | “I have spinal arthritis and back pain from sitting at a desk for 30 y. I like to hike but can’t do it without pain. Yesterday after taking CBD I went for a hike, it just wasn’t there at all.” | 26.4 (21.8-31.1) |
| Sleep conditions | Insomnia, nightmares | “A life-long sufferer of insomnia, after trying CBD I finally am sleeping at night and waking up the next day feeling refreshed.” | 14.6 (11.3-18.5) |
| Neurological conditions | Dizziness, epilepsy, headaches, Ménière disease, migraines, neurological pain, motor tics or tremors, speech disorders, vagal neuropathy | “I have been struggling with a chronic neurological illness for years that cause tremors. After trying CBD isolate, I began to feel immediate relief.” | 6.9 (4.4-9.6) |
| Gastroenterological conditions | Appetite increase, acid reflux, gastroparesis, gastrointestinal pain, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, ulcerative colitis | “I tried CBD for gastroparesis and my stomach started to get much better...after 20 y I finally feel normal.” | 3.9 (1.9-6.1) |
| Addiction conditions | Cravings or withdrawal symptoms [including alcohol, kratom, opioids, risperidone, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol], anxiety induced by Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol | “I developed an opioid addiction in the past few years, so I gave CBD a try. It’s helped me control my cravings and withdrawal symptoms as I’ve tried to get off opioids.” | 1.9 (0.8-3.3) |
| Sexual health conditions | Erectile dysfunction, libido, menstrual disorders | “I used to suffer from erectile dysfunction, but after using CBD I can now perform.” | 1.1 (0.3-2.2) |
| Cardiological conditions | Heart palpitations | “Other medications I used for heart palpitations gave me side effects, CBD has been much better and has helped to stop my heart palpitations.” | 0.6 (0.0-1.4) |
| Dermatological conditions | Acne, psoriasis | “After trying CBD over a year ago, my psoriasis is much better.” | 0.6 (0.0-1.4) |
| Oral health conditions | Aphthous ulcers, mouth sore-related pain | “I have been suffering from canker sores for many years, they historically lasted at least 10 d. After using CBD as an oral rinse, they now are only lasting 3 d.” | 0.6 (0.0-1.4) |
| Ophthalmological conditions | Color vision deficiency | “After taking CBD I am seeing colors more vividly than I was before.” | 0.3 (0.0-0.8) |
| Wellness | |||
| Mental wellness | Mood control, mental acuity, stress control | “CBD has helped me to quiet my racing thoughts and mentally process things that normally overwhelmed me.” | 29.5 (24.8-34.2) |
| Physical wellness | Enhanced energy, exercise, dietary supplement | “CBD has given me more energy for daily functions.” | 1.4 (0.3-2.8) |
Abbreviation: CBD, cannabidiol.
a
Categories were developed through open- and axial-coding processes. Further details are given in the Methods section.
b
Each post was edited to omit content that might make the individual identifiable because the author may not have anticipated this content being publicly shared elsewhere and for length.