Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Continue' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Major trials to test effectiveness of cannabidiol on psychosis

A global study involving three clinical trials will investigate the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) in treating people with psychosis or psychotic symptoms, thanks to a multi-million pound grant to Oxford University.

Medication bottles at a bottling plant © Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Wellcome has awarded Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry £16.5 million for the STEP (Stratification & Treatment in Early Psychosis) programme, as part of its support for mental health research.

The programme, led by Professor Philip McGuire, Professor of Psychiatry at Oxford, will involve 1,000 participants, including people at a clinically high risk for psychosis, people with first episode psychosis, and people with psychosis who have not responded to conventional treatment.

The programme involves 35 centres, mainly in Europe and North America, and will be co-ordinated from Oxford at the Prince of Wales International Centre for SANE Research.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has supplied the cannabidiol for the trials at no cost.

Read the full story on the University of Oxford website

Similar stories

Exceptional early-career researchers awarded 2026 European Research Council Starting Grants

Four University of Oxford researchers have been awarded prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants, each worth €1.5 million for a period of up to five year

How body fat is stored across organs may reveal hidden health risks, study suggests

Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health and the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute have contributed to a new study showing that how fat accumulates in the body is just as important for identifying different health risks as a person’s overall weight.

Four Oxford researchers recognised in the 2026 Royal Society Awards

The annual Royal Society Awards recognise outstanding contributions to scientific discovery, public engagement and research culture. Of the 27 awards for 2025-26, announced today, four honour Oxford University researchers.

New shingles vaccine linked to lower risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure – major study indicates

The shingles vaccine currently in use, called ‘Shingrix’, is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events – including heart attacks, heart failure and stroke – compared to the previous shingles vaccine, according to a major new study published in Nature Medicine.

Vapes help more people quit smoking than other methods, Oxford-led Cochrane review finds

An updated Cochrane review led by Oxford researchers finds nicotine e-cigarettes help more people quit smoking than nicotine patches and gum, behavioural support or no support. The living review now includes 80 trials and nearly 30,000 participants.

Brain imaging study reveals how we decide whether we are in control

A brain imaging and stimulation study led by the University of Oxford has identified the brain mechanisms that help us work out whether the consequences we experience are caused by our own actions or by circumstances beyond our control.