Abstracts

Rationale: The ongoing Alabama Cannabidiol (CBD) Study has provided evidence that CBD is associated with better seizure outcomes for some patients with intractable epilepsy. However, whether these improved outcomes extend to psychosocial correlates or patient-perceived health remains unclear. The aim of this study is to examine how indicators measuring social support, social stressors, and self-rated health changed for patients over their first year in the study. Methods: Comprehensive demographic data for all patients with intractable epilepsy were collected at enrollment in the CBD study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama medical centers between 4/1/2015 and 6/1/2017. A pharmaceutical formulation of CBD 100 mg/ml oral solution was provided by GW Research Ltd. Social support data using the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) were collected for adults only while social stress (Stressful Events Index [SEI]) and self-rated health data were gathered for all patients. Self-rated health was collapsed into a dichotomous variable (0=poor health, 1=good health). Data were collected at the first visit and again at/around the one-year mark or at the time of exit from the study. For participants unable to answer for themselves, these data were collected from the primary caregiver. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to compare mean differences in scores for the ISEL and SEI indicators while self-rated health was analyzed using a cross-tabulation with a chi-square test for significance. Two-tailed significance was set at p < .05. Results: As of 6/1/2017, 135 participants were enrolled: majority pediatric (52.6%), female (51.9%), non-Hispanic (97%), and white (85.2). Pediatric patients had an age range between 1-19 years (x ¯=10.08) while adult patients had an age range between 19-62 years (x ¯=29.84). On average, ISEL scores decreased 2.3 points (N=17, p=.046). Results for SEI had mixed results: adults experienced an increase in SEI of 0.29 stressful events (N=35, p=.048) while children had a decrease of .86 events (N=22, p=.008). For patients overall self-reported health improved with 73.3% reporting good health at enrollment and 77.4% reporting good health after one year on CBD (N=62, p=.019). Conclusions: In general, self-reported health appears to have improved for the patients in the Alabama CBD study after one year of treatment with pharmaceutical grade CBD oil. Further studies will include analyses of the various components of the ISEL and the SEI to identify particular social supports and stressors that may be associated with overall perceptions of health. Funding: Funding was provided through the State of Alabama CBD Study.