Unraveling the Intoxicating and Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis Ingredients on Psychosis and Cognition
Marco Colizzi, Mirella Ruggeri, Sagnik Bhattacharyya
Frontiers in Psychology May 14, 2020 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00833 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis CBD |
| Keywords | Psychotomimetic Psychosis Hallucinogen Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Effects of cannabis Pharmacology Cognition Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Dronabinol Cannabinoid receptor Agonist Nmda receptor |
| Citations | 50 |
| Key findings | Cannabis use, especially high-potency Δ9-THC, increases psychosis risk and impairs cognition, while CBD may protect against these effects and have therapeutic potential. |
Abstract
Research evidence suggests a dose-response relationship for the association between cannabis use and risk of psychosis. Such relationship seems to reflect not only an increased risk of psychosis as a function of frequent cannabis use, but also of high-potency cannabis use in terms of concentration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), its main psychoactive component. This finding would be in line with the evidence that ∆9-THC administration induces transient psychosis-like symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals. Conversely, low-potency varieties would be less harmful because of their lower amount of ∆9-THC and potential compresence of another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), which seems to mitigate ∆9-THC detrimental effects. A growing body of studies begins to suggest that CBD may have not only protective effects against the psychotomimetic effects of ∆9-THC but even therapeutic properties on its own, opening new prospects for the treatment of psychosis. Despite more limited, evidence of the effects of cannabis on cognition seems to come to similar conclusions, with increasing Δ9-THC exposure being responsible for the cognitive impairments attributed to recreational cannabis use while CBD preventing such effects and, when administered alone, enhancing cognition. Molecular evidence indicates that Δ9-THC and CBD may interact with cannabinoid receptors with almost opposite mechanisms, with Δ9-THC being a partial agonist and CBD an inverse agonist/ antagonist. With the help of imaging techniques, pharmacological studies in vivo have been able to show opposite effects of Δ9-THC and CBD also on brain function. Altogether, they may account for the intoxicating and therapeutic effects of cannabis on psychosis and cognition.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal association between cannabis and psychosis: examination of the evidence | 2004 | Review | |
| Cannabis sativa: A comprehensive ethnopharmacological review of a medicinal plant with a long history. General (historical and pharmacological review) | 2018 | Review | |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis | 2001 | Review | |
| Beyond THC: The New Generation of Cannabinoid Designer Drugs | 2011 | Review | |
| Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa constituent, as an antipsychotic drug | 2006 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Opposite Roles for Cannabidiol and δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Psychotomimetic Effects of Cannabis Extracts Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology August 20, 2021
- The Effects of Cannabidiol and δ-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Social Cognition: A Naturalistic Controlled Study Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research July 26, 2022
- Beyond therapeutic potential: a systematic investigation of ketamine misuse in patients with depressive disorders. Discover Mental Health July 1, 2024
- A brain imaging study of dopamine receptor D2 availability in cannabis dependent users after recovery from cannabis-induced psychosis Frontiers in Psychiatry October 27, 2023
- Occasional cannabis use is associated with higher premorbid functioning and IQ in youth at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis: Parallel findings to psychosis cohorts Schizophrenia Research July 30, 2024
and 5 more in the library
Cites 34
- Translational Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a New Age Frontiers in Immunology September 21, 2018
- Modulation of Mediotemporal and Ventrostriatal Function in Humans by Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Archives of General Psychiatry April 1, 2009
- “Spiceophrenia”: a systematic overview of “Spice”‐related psychopathological issues and a case report Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental July 1, 2013
- Psychosis reactivity to cannabis use in daily life: an experience sampling study The British Journal of Psychiatry May 31, 2010
- Performance of schizophrenic patients in the Stroop Color Word Test and electrodermal responsiveness after acute administration of cannabidiol (CBD) Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry March 1, 2010
and 29 more in the library