New Study: Cannabis May Treat Schizophrenia
A new study published in this month’s issue of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology, and published online by the National Institute of Health, has found that cannabis may treat schizophrenia.
“Clinical and neurobiological findings suggest that the cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system may be implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia”, begins the study’s abstract. “We described that the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) strain presents a schizophrenia behavioral phenotype that is specifically attenuated by antipsychotic drugs, and potentiated by proschizophrenia manipulations. Based on these findings, we have suggested this strain as an animal model of schizophrenia.
“The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cannabinoid drugs on the deficit of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle, the main paradigm used to study sensorimotor gating impairment related to schizophrenia, presented by the SHR strain. ”
For the study, researchers used synthetic cannabinoids, as well as plant-derived cannabidiol.
They conclude that; “Our results reinforce the role of the endocannabinoid system in the sensorimotor gating impairment related to schizophrenia, and point to cannabinoid drugs as potential therapeutic strategies“.
The study can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog