Addiction Biology
June 2008
F Markus Leweke, Dagmar Koethe
Since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system, a growing body of psychiatric research has emerged focusing on the role of this system in major psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), major depression and anxiety disorder. Continuing in the line of earlier epidemiological studies, recent replication studies indicate that frequent cannabis use doubles the risk...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
June 2008
A Weinstein, O Brickner, H Lerman et al.
Heavy use of marijuana is claimed to damage critical skills related to short-term memory, visual scanning and attention. Motor skills and driving safety may be compromised by the acute effects of marijuana. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of 13 mg and 17 mg Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on skills important for coordinated movement and driving and on subjective...
Psychiatry Research
May 30, 2008
Alecia D Schweinsburg, Bonnie J Nagel, Brian C Schweinsburg et al.
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance among teenagers, yet little is known about the possible neural influence of heavy marijuana use during adolescence. We previously demonstrated an altered functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity related to spatial working memory (SWM) among adolescents who were heavy users of after an average of 8 days of abstinence, but the...
Journal of Psychopharmacology
May 30, 2008
L Clark, Jonathan P. Roiser, Trevor W Robbins et al.
Evidence for serotonin involvement in impulsivity has generated interest in the measurement of impulsivity in regular ecstasy users, who are thought to display serotonergic dysfunction. However, current findings are inconsistent. Here, we used a recently developed Information Sampling Test to measure 'reflection' impulsivity in 46 current ecstasy users, 14 subjects who used ecstasy in the past,...
Journal of Neurochemistry
May 2008
Aoife Gowran, Veronica A Campbell
The psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC), can evoke apoptosis in cultured cortical neurones. Whilst the intracellular mechanisms responsible for this apoptotic pathway remain to be fully elucidated, we have recently identified a role for the CB1 type of cannabinoid (CB) receptor and the tumour suppressor protein, p53. In the current study, we...
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
May 2008
Adi Ronen, Pnina Gershon, Hanan Drobiner et al.
The effects of marijuana or THC on driving has been tested in several studies, but usually not in conjunction with physiological and subjective responses and not in comparison to alcohol effects on all three types of measures. To assess the effects of two dosages of THC relative to alcohol on driving performance, physiological strain, and subjective feelings. We tested the subjective feelings...
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
April 1, 2008
Robert E Vann, Thomas F Gamage, Jonathan A Warner et al.
Cannabis sativa (marijuana plant) contains myriad cannabinoid compounds; yet, investigative attention has focused almost exclusively on Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), its primary psychoactive substituent. Interest in modulation of THC's effects by these other cannabinoids (e.g., cannabidiol (CBD)) has been stimulated anew by recent approval by Canada of Sativex (a 1:1 dose ratio...
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
March 1, 2008
Lynn E. DeLisi
67 citations
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review explores what is known about the association of cannabis with schizophrenia, its effects on the brain, and whether the brain changes known to be present in schizophrenia could be caused by cannabis and thus lead to a psychosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The heavy use of cannabis is known to be associated with some adverse consequences, such as the occurrence of acute...
Das Gesundheitswesen
March 1, 2008
Yehonala Gudlowski
Psychosen sind Störungen der Neurotransmission im Gehirn. Bestimmte Neurotransmitter (z.B. Dopamin, Serotonin und Glutamat) werden in bestimmten Hirnregionen zu viel, in anderen zu wenig ausgeschüttet, so dass es zu Störungen des Denkens, der Handlungsplanung und der sensorischen Wahrnehmung (Halluzinationen) kommt oder bestimmte Ereignisse in bizarrer Weise interpretiert werden. So kann beim...
Psychological Medicine
February 26, 2008
David Jonathan Castle
1 citation
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