The Role of Cannabis in the Development of Psychosis.
Ö. Türkoğlu, Aygün Ertuğrul
Turk psikiyatri dergisi = Turkish journal of psychiatry 2024 DOI: 10.5080/u27122 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | The authors argue that cannabis use, especially when started early and in heavy or high-potency forms, is associated with increased risk of psychosis, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals. They propose that cannabis disrupts the endocannabinoid system during critical developmental periods, affecting glutamate and dopamine signaling and synaptic pruning, and may worsen pre-existing endocannabinoid dysfunction in schizophrenia. |
Abstract
Cannabis is known to cause psychotic disorders, and the increasing use of cannabis constitutes an important health problem. Growing evidence that cannabis causes the development of psychosis has led to an increase in the number of studies in this field. This review aims to clarify the role of cannabis use in the development of psychosis, discuss the current literature about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. For this purpose PubMed was searched for the keywords "cannabis use, psychosis, schizophrenia, endocannabinoid system, pathophysiology, neurobiology"; the articles published in the last 10 years were reviewed. Epidemiological studies showed that cannabis use starting at an earlier age is associated with an increased risk of psychosis, this risk is more pronounced in people with genetic predisposition and increases with heavy and high potency cannabis use. Studies showed that the endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in nervous system development and functions as a homeostatic regulator in physiological processes, is affected by cannabis use during critical periods of development like adolescence; cannabis use affects physiological processes such as synaptic pruning due to the effects of this system on neurotransmitters like glutamate and dopamine leading to long-term behavioral and psychological consequences. Additionally, evidence that dysfunctions in the endocannabinoid system play a role in the etiology of schizophrenia suggests that cannabis affects the disease process by worsening existing dysfunctions in this system. Understanding the relationship between cannabis use and the development of psychosis and underlying neurobiological mechanisms will help to identify new treatment targets, and develop appropriate preventive approaches. Keywords: Cannabis Abuse, Psychotic Disorders, Schizophrenia, Endocannabinoids, Neurobiology.
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
Cites 26
- Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry 2003
- The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies Pharmacology & Therapeutics October 20, 2018
- Long-term consequences of adolescent cannabinoid exposure in adult psychopathology Frontiers in Neuroscience November 10, 2014
- Endocannabinoid system and psychiatry: in search of a neurobiological basis for detrimental and potential therapeutic effects Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2011
- Prenatal Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure in Males Leads to Motivational Disturbances Related to Striatal Epigenetic Dysregulation. Biological Psychiatry July 15, 2022
and 21 more in the library