Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia
Abstract: Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychotic symptoms....
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
20 March 2012
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| In: |
Translational Psychiatry
Year: 2012, Volume: 2, Issue: 3 |
| ISSN: | 2158-3188 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/tp.2012.15 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/tp.2012.15 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/tp201215 
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| Author Notes: | F.M. Leweke, D. Piomelli, F. Pahlisch, D. Muhl, C.W. Gerth, C. Hoyer, J. Klosterkötter, M. Hellmich and D. Koethe |
| Summary: | Abstract: Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, enhanced anandamide signaling let to a lower transition rate from initial prodromal states into frank psychosis as well as postponed transition. In our translational approach, we performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial of cannabidiol vs amisulpride, a potent antipsychotic, in acute schizophrenia to evaluate the clinical relevance of our initial findings. Either treatment was safe and led to significant clinical improvement, but cannabidiol displayed a markedly superior side-effect profile. Moreover, cannabidiol treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in serum anandamide levels, which was significantly associated with clinical improvement. The results suggest that inhibition of anandamide deactivation may contribute to the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol potentially representing a completely new mechanism in the treatment of schizophrenia. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 04.09.2018 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2158-3188 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/tp.2012.15 |