Study: Marijuana Can Produce Schizophrenia-Like
Symptoms
New research suggests that delta-9-THC, the principal active ingredient
in marijuana, can cause transient schizophrenia-like symptoms, such
as suspiciousness, delusions, and impairments in memory and attention.
The study, led by D. Cyril D'Souza, M.D., associate professor of
psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, set out to explore a long-known
association between cannabis and psychosis.
"Just as studies with amphetamines and ketamine advanced the
notion that brain systems utilizing the chemical messengers dopamine
and NMDA receptors may be involved in the pathophysiology in schizophrenia,
this study provides some tantalizing support for the hypotheses
that the brain-receptor system that cannabis acts on may be involved
in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia," said D'Souza. "Clearly,
further work is needed to test this hypothesis."
For the study, researchers administered varying doses of delta-9-THC
to participants who were screened for any vulnerability to schizophrenia.
Some participants showed signs of schizophrenia that lasted about
a half hour to one hour after being given THC. Symptoms included
suspiciousness, unusual thoughts, paranoia, thought disorder, blunted
affect, reduced spontaneity, reduced interaction with the interviewer,
and problems with memory and attention.
The study was published June 2 on the website of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
|
