DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.10850 ISSN: 0924-9338

Patterns of Cannabidiol (CBD) Use and Mental Health Correlates in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

O. Martin-Santiago, B. Arribas-Simon, M. Calvo-Valcarcel, P. Martinez-Gimeno, M. Rios-Vaquero
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Introduction

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from Cannabis sativa , has gained popularity among young adults seeking natural alternatives for managing emotional and physical symptoms. Despite its increasing use, particularly without medical supervision, scientific evidence regarding its safety and efficacy remains limited.

Objectives

This study aimed to:

•

Describe the demographic and clinical profile of CBD users.

•

Assess perceived effects of CBD on mental health and well-being.
•

Explore associations between CBD use, mental health history, and cannabis consumption.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 230 individuals aged 18–40, recruited via social media. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, mental health history, substance use, and perceptions of CBD efficacy.

Results

Among the participants, 14.3% reported having used CBD. These individuals showed a higher prevalence of mental health care, depression, antidepressant use, and prior cannabis consumption compared to non-users ( see Table 1 </b> ). The most common motivations for CBD use were stress/anxiety relief and peer recommendations. Notably, a large majority (81.8%) initiated CBD use without prior consultation with a healthcare professional.

Table 1.

Mental Health and Substance Use Characteristics of CBD Users vs. Non-Users

Table 1. Long description.

Variable
CBD Users (%)
Non-Users (%)
Mental health care
57.6
41.6
History of depression
30.3 15.7
Antidepressant use
24.2 10.2
Previous cannabis use
39.4 8.1
Never used cannabis
18.2 53.3

Perceived efficacy varied by user profile. As shown in Image 1 , 75% of cannabis users reported emotional improvement with CBD, while 73.3% of non-cannabis users did not perceive any benefit ( p = .026). Similarly, participants with a history of depression were more likely to rate CBD as “very effective” (75%) compared to those without such history (25%), while 88.9% of those who found CBD ineffective had no depression history ( p = .048).

Image 1:

Image 1: Long description.

Conclusions

This study reveals a strong association between CBD use and mental health vulnerability, particularly among individuals with depressive symptoms or prior cannabis use. Compared to previous studies that emphasized insomnia or chronic pain as primary motivations, our findings highlight stress and anxiety relief as dominant factors. The high rate of unsupervised consumption underscores the need for regulatory oversight and public health education. These results align with prior research indicating increased self-medication behaviors among emotionally vulnerable populations and suggest that CBD may be perceived as a therapeutic alternative, especially by those already engaged in psychopharmacological treatment.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

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