Biomarkers for the effects of cannabis and THC in healthy volunteers.
Lineke Zuurman, Annelies E Ippel, Eduard Moin, Joop van Gerven
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology January 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2008.03329.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy volunteers |
| Interventions | Cannabis Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Subjective effects and heart rate are currently the most reliable biomarkers for the acute effects of cannabis and THC in healthy volunteers, with subjective effects showing significant responses in almost all studies. Cannabis affected most CNS domains, with some domains suggesting depression at lower doses and stimulation at higher doses, but the wide variety of CNS tests used prevents reliable quantification of drug-response relationships. |
Abstract
An increasing number of novel therapeutic agents are targeted at cannabinoid receptors. Drug development programmes of new cannabinoid drugs may be facilitated by the identification of useful biomarkers. This systemic literature review aims to assess the usefulness of direct biomarkers for the effects of cannabis and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in healthy volunteers. One hundred and sixty-five useful articles were found that investigated the acute effects of cannabis or THC on the central nervous system (CNS) and heart rate in healthy volunteers. Three hundred and eighteen tests (or test variants) were grouped in test clusters and functional domains, to allow their evaluation as a useful biomarker and to study their dose-response effects. Cannabis/THC affected a wide range of CNS domains. In addition to heart rate, subjective effects were the most reliable biomarkers, showing significant responses to cannabis in almost all studies. Some CNS domains showed indications of depression at lower and stimulation at higher doses. Subjective effects and heart rate are currently the most reliable biomarkers to study the effect of cannabis. Cannabis affects most CNS domains, but too many different CNS tests are used to quantify the drug-response relationships reliably. Test standardization, particularly in motor and memory domains, may reveal additional biomarkers.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of cannabis use on outcomes of psychotic disorders: systematic review People with psychotic disorders, as examined in 13 longitudinal studies | 2008 | Systematic review | |
| The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Existing Findings and New Data in a First-Episode Sample Patients with established schizophrenia (meta-analysis: 572) and patients with... | 2010 | Meta-analysis and cross-sectional observational study | n = 700 |
| Medicinal cannabis for psychiatric disorders: a clinically-focused systematic review | 2020 | Systematic review | |
| Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature Cannabis users and controls in neuroimaging studies | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Human Laboratory Studies on Cannabinoids and Psychosis. Healthy human subjects and individuals with schizophrenia | 2016 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 21
- Mitigation of post‐traumatic stress symptoms by Cannabis resin: A review of the clinical and neurobiological evidence Drug Testing and Analysis June 26, 2012
- Evidence for involvement of the insula in the psychotropic effects of THC in humans: a double-blind, randomized pharmacological MRI study The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology April 14, 2011
- Acute psychomotor, memory and subjective effects of MDMA and THC co-administration over time in healthy volunteers Journal of Psychopharmacology September 3, 2010
- Anxiety, panic, and hopelessness during and after ritual ayahuasca intake in a woman with generalized anxiety disorder: A case report Journal of Psychedelic Studies April 1, 2017
- Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) impairs visual working memory performance: a randomized crossover trial. Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2020
and 16 more in the library
Cites 25
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- A review of acute effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine in healthy volunteers Journal of Psychopharmacology March 1, 2006
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- Effect of intrapulmonary tetrahydrocannabinol administration in humans. Journal of Psychopharmacology September 2008
- Modelling of the concentration--effect relationship of THC on central nervous system parameters and heart rate -- insight into its mechanisms of action and a tool for clinical research and development of cannabinoids. Journal of Psychopharmacology September 2008
and 20 more in the library