Cannabidiol Counteracts the Psychotropic Side-Effects of Δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in the Ventral Hippocampus through Bidirectional Control of ERK1–2 Phosphorylation Roger Hudson, Justine Renard, Christopher Norris, Walter J. Rushlow and Steven R. Laviolette Journal of Neuroscience, 2019, 39, (44), 8762-8777 Doi : https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0708-19.2019 Abstract Evidence suggests that the phytocannabinoids Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) differentially regulate salience attribution and psychiatric risk. The ventral hippocampus (vHipp) relays emotional salience via control of dopamine (DA) neuronal activity states, which are dysregulated in psychosis and schizophrenia. Using in vivo electrophysiology in male Sprague Dawley rats, we demonstrate that intra-vHipp THC strongly increases ventral tegmental area (VTA) DA neuronal frequency [...]
Lire la suiteIs cannabidiol an effective treatment for schizophrenia? R. Guinguis, M.I. Ruiz, G. Rada Medwave, 2017, 17, 7, e7010 DOI: 10.5867/medwave.2017.07.7010 Abstract Cannabidiol has recently been proposed as an antipsychotic for schizophrenia. However, its clinical use and safety is controversial. To answer this question, we used Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We identified six systematic reviews incorporating four primary studies overall, including two randomized trials. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data from primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table [...]
Lire la suiteRole of the Endocannabinoid System in the Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia: Implications for Pharmacological Intervention F.M. Leweke, J.K. Mueller, B.Lange, S. Fritze, C.E. Topor, D. Koethe, C. Rohleder CNS Drugs, 2018 Jul;32(7):605-619. doi: 10.1007/s40263-018-0539-z. Abstract The term schizophrenia describes a group of multifaceted psychiatric conditions causing significant impairment of the quality of life of affected patients. Although multiple pharmacological treatment options exist, e.g. first- or second-generation antipsychotics, these therapeutics often cause disturbing side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms, prolactin increase, sexual dysfunction and/or metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, cognitive impairments and negative symptoms, two factors significantly influencing the course and outcome, are not sufficiently addressed by the available [...]
Lire la suiteChildhood trauma and being at-risk for psychosis are associated with higher peripheral endocannabinoids E. Appiah-Kusi, R. Wilson, M.Colizzi, E. Foglia, Sagnik Bhattacharyya, et al. Psychological Medicine, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719001946 Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 August 2019 Abstract BackgroundEvidence has been accumulating regarding alterations in components of the endocannabinoid system in patients with psychosis. Of all the putative risk factors associated with psychosis, being at clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR) has the strongest association with the onset of psychosis, and exposure to childhood trauma has been linked to an increased risk of development of psychotic disorder. We aimed to investigate whether being at-risk for [...]
Lire la suitePriority Considerations for Medicinal Cannabis-Related Research Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Charles V. Pollack, Jr., David Casarett, Richard Dart, Mahmoud ElSohly, Larry Good, Manuel Guzman, Lumır Hanus, Kevin P. Hill, Marilyn A. Huestis, Eric Marsh, Susan Sisley, Nancy Skinner, Judith Spahr, Ryan Vandrey, Eugene Viscusi, Mark A. Ware, and Donald Abrams Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 2019, Volume 4, Number 3, 1-19. DOI: 10.1089/can.2019.0045 Keywords : medicinal cannabis; medical marijuana Introduction and Rationale The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s 2017 publication The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research provided a significant contribution by synthesizing the existing evidence base [...]
Lire la suiteThe Relevance of Sex in the Association of Synthetic Cannabinoid Use With Psychosis and Agitation in an Inpatient Population Anahita Bassir Nia, MD‡; Claire L. Mann, BA; Sharron Spriggs, MA; Daniel R. DeFrancisco, MD; Steven Carbonaro, MD; Lyla Parvez, MA; Igor I. Galynker, MD, PhD; Charles A. Perkel, MD; and Yasmin L. Hurd, PhD Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2019, 80, (4), 18m12539 https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.18m12539 Background : Current evidence suggests that women are more sensitive to the effects of cannabinoids. The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of sex in the association of synthetic cannabinoid (SC) use with psychosis and agitation. Methods : A [...]
Lire la suiteEndocannabinoid signaling in psychiatric disorders: a review of positron emission tomography studies Matthew E. Sloan, Caroline W. Grant, Joshua L. Gowin, Vijay A. Ramchandani and Bernard Le Foll Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 2018, 0, 1–9; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41401-018-0081-z Endocannabinoid signaling is implicated in an array of psychopathologies ranging from anxiety to psychosis and addiction. In recent years, radiotracers targeting the endocannabinoid system have been used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies to determine whether individuals with psychiatric disorders display altered endocannabinoid signaling. We comprehensively reviewed PET studies examining differences in endocannabinoid signaling between individuals with psychiatric illness and healthy controls. Published studies evaluated individuals with five psychiatric [...]
Lire la suiteCase Series: Salvia divinorum as a Potential Addictive Hallucinogen Joseph El-Khoury, Evelyne Baroud The American Journal on Addictions, 2018, 27, 163–165 DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12715 Background and Objective : Recreational use of Salvia divinorum (salvia), a potent, naturally occurring hallucinogen, is on the rise internationally. Despite the paucity of information about its long term health effects, salvia is readily available and generally portrayed as a safe non-addictive substance. Methods and Results : We report on two patients who presented with an enduring and pervasive pattern of salvia use. Discussion and Conclusions : Evaluating patients for salvia use during clinical assessment is strongly encouraged, especially among young polysubstance users. Scientific [...]
Lire la suiteThe Potential of Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Psychosis and Addiction : Who Benefits Most ? A Systematic Review Albert Batalla, Hella Janssen, Shiral S. Gangadin and Matthijs G. Bossong Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2019, 8, 1058 doi : 10.3390/jcm8071058 Abstract : The endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important role in the pathophysiology of both psychotic disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs). The non-psychoactive cannabinoid compound, cannabidiol (CBD) is a highly promising tool in the treatment of both disorders. Here we review human clinical studies that investigated the ecacy of CBD treatment for schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and their comorbidity. In particular, we examined [...]
Lire la suiteExpanding the Scientific Study of Self-Experience with Psychedelics Manesh Girn and Kalina Christoff Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2018, 25, (11–12), 131–54 Abstract : The nature of the self has long been a topic of discussion in philosophical and religious contexts, and has recently also garnered significant scientific attention. Although evidence exists to suggest the multifaceted nature of self-experience, the amount of research done on each of its putative components has not been uniform. Whereas selfreflective processing has been studied extensively, non-reflective aspects of self-experience have been the subject of comparatively little empirical research. This discrepancy may be linked to the methodological difficulties in experimentally [...]
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