Cannabis and Psychosis: Neurobiology

Overview

Journal Indian J Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2014 Feb 28

PMID 24574553

Citations 14

Authors

Amresh Shrivastava

Megan Johnston

Kristen Terpstra

Yves Bureau

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cannabis is a known risk factor for schizophrenia, although the exact neurobiological process through which the effects on psychosis occur is not well-understood. In this review, we attempt to develop and discuss a possible pathway for the development of psychosis. We examine the neurobiological changes due to cannabis to see if these changes are similar to those seen in schizophrenic patients the findings show similarities; however, these mere similarities cannot establish a 'cause-effect' relationship as a number of people with similar changes do not develop schizophrenia. Therefore, the 'transition-to-psychosis' due to cannabis, despite being a strong risk factor, remains uncertain based upon neurobiological changes. It appears that other multiple factors might be involved in these processes which are beyond neurobiological factors. Major advances have been made in understanding the underpinning of marijuana dependence, and the role of the cannabinoid system, which is a major area for targeting medications to treat marijuana withdrawal and dependence, as well as other addictions is of now, it is clear that some of the similarities in the neurobiology of cannabis and schizophrenia may indicate a mechanism for the development of psychosis, but its trajectories are undetermined.

Citing Articles

The Role of Cannabis in the Development of Psychosis.

Turkoglu O, Ertugrul A Turk Psikiyatri Derg. 2024; 35(3):234-244.

PMID: 39224996 PMC: 11375744. DOI: 10.5080/u27122.

Cannabis use and dependence among festival attendees: results from the French OCTOPUS survey.

Chaaban S, Istvan M, Schreck B, Laigo P, Rousselet M, Grall-Bronnec M BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):992.

PMID: 38594675 PMC: 11003156. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18496-9.

Clinical Variables and Peripheral Biomarkers Associated with Substance-Induced Psychotic Disorder: Differences Related to Alcohol, Cannabis, and Psychostimulant Abuse.

Di Paolo M, Calabrese A, Nosari G, Ciappolino V, Cirella L, Caldiroli A J Pers Med. 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38541067 PMC: 10970896. DOI: 10.3390/jpm14030325.

Terminal type-specific cannabinoid CB1 receptor alterations in patients with schizophrenia: A pilot study.

Chou S, Fish K, Lewis D, Sweet R Neurobiol Dis. 2023; 185:106262.

PMID: 37586566 PMC: 10958392. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106262.

Terminal type-specific cannabinoid CB1 receptor alterations in patients with schizophrenia: a pilot study.

Chou S, Fish K, Lewis D, Sweet R bioRxiv. 2023; .

PMID: 37090672 PMC: 10120624. DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.11.536217.

References

Roffman J, Weiss A, Goff D, Rauch S, Weinberger D . Neuroimaging-genetic paradigms: a new approach to investigate the pathophysiology and treatment of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2006; 14(2):78-91. DOI: 10.1080/10673220600642945. View

Linszen D, van Amelsvoort T . Cannabis and psychosis: an update on course and biological plausible mechanisms. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007; 20(2):116-20. DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e32803577fb. View

van Os J, Kenis G, Rutten B . The environment and schizophrenia. Nature. 2010; 468(7321):203-12. DOI: 10.1038/nature09563. View

Bhattacharyya S, Crippa J, Martin-Santos R, Winton-Brown T, Fusar-Poli P . Imaging the neural effects of cannabinoids: current status and future opportunities for psychopharmacology. Curr Pharm Des. 2009; 15(22):2603-14. DOI: 10.2174/138161209788957465. View

Winter-van Rossum I, Boomsma M, Tenback D, Reed C, van Os J . [The influence of cannabis on the course of bipolar disorder: a longitudinal analysis]. Tijdschr Psychiatr. 2010; 52(5):287-98. View

Huizink A, Mulder E . Maternal smoking, drinking or cannabis use during pregnancy and neurobehavioral and cognitive functioning in human offspring. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2005; 30(1):24-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2005.04.005. View

McLaren J, Silins E, Hutchinson D, Mattick R, Hall W . Assessing evidence for a causal link between cannabis and psychosis: a review of cohort studies. Int J Drug Policy. 2009; 21(1):10-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2009.09.001. View

Malone D, Jongejan D, Taylor D . Cannabidiol reverses the reduction in social interaction produced by low dose Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009; 93(2):91-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2009.04.010. View

Gregg L, Barrowclough C, Haddock G . Reasons for increased substance use in psychosis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007; 27(4):494-510. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2006.09.004. View

10.

Hartman C, Hopfer C, Haberstick B, Rhee S, Crowley T, Corley R . The association between cannabinoid receptor 1 gene (CNR1) and cannabis dependence symptoms in adolescents and young adults. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009; 104(1-2):11-6. PMC: 2769509. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.01.022. View

11.

Dekker N, Linszen D, de Haan L . Reasons for cannabis use and effects of cannabis use as reported by patients with psychotic disorders. Psychopathology. 2009; 42(6):350-60. DOI: 10.1159/000236906. View

12.

van Os J, Bak M, Hanssen M, Bijl R, de Graaf R, Verdoux H . Cannabis use and psychosis: a longitudinal population-based study. Am J Epidemiol. 2002; 156(4):319-27. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwf043. View

13.

Stokes P, Egerton A, Watson B, Reid A, Lappin J, Howes O . History of cannabis use is not associated with alterations in striatal dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability. J Psychopharmacol. 2011; 26(1):144-9. DOI: 10.1177/0269881111414090. View

14.

Rodriguez de Fonseca F, Cebeira M, Fernandez-Ruiz J, Navarro M, Ramos J . Effects of pre- and perinatal exposure to hashish extracts on the ontogeny of brain dopaminergic neurons. Neuroscience. 1991; 43(2-3):713-23. DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(91)90329-m. View

15.

Fadda P, Robinson L, Fratta W, Pertwee R, Riedel G . Differential effects of THC- or CBD-rich cannabis extracts on working memory in rats. Neuropharmacology. 2004; 47(8):1170-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2004.08.009. View

16.

Katona I, Freund T . Endocannabinoid signaling as a synaptic circuit breaker in neurological disease. Nat Med. 2008; 14(9):923-30. DOI: 10.1038/nm.f.1869. View

17.

Jager G, Block R, Luijten M, Ramsey N . Cannabis use and memory brain function in adolescent boys: a cross-sectional multicenter functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010; 49(6):561-72, 572.e1-3. PMC: 2918244. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2010.02.001. View

18.

Stefanis N, Delespaul P, Henquet C, Bakoula C, Stefanis C, van Os J . Early adolescent cannabis exposure and positive and negative dimensions of psychosis. Addiction. 2004; 99(10):1333-41. DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00806.x. View

19.

Baldacchino A, Blair H, Scherbaum N, Grosse-Vehne E, Riglietta M, Tidone L . Drugs and Psychosis Project: a multi-centre European study on comorbidity. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2009; 28(4):379-89. DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00063.x. View

20.

Bolla K, Eldreth D, Matochik J, Cadet J . Neural substrates of faulty decision-making in abstinent marijuana users. Neuroimage. 2005; 26(2):480-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.02.012. View