SMALL DOSES OF CANNABIS CAN HELP TREAT SCHIZOPHRENIA


There has been a wealth of conflicting information about the possible link between schizophrenia and cannabis. A controversial study published in December suggests that cannabis smoking may worsen a genetic predisposition that makes people more vulnerable to schizophrenia, but multiple studies have shown that the plant can significantly benefit schizophrenics.

Hoping to expand our knowledge of this relationship, a team of researchers from the University of Manchester and the University of Lancaster (UK) published the article "The Impact of Cannabis Use on the Clinical Outcome of a Recent Manifestation of Psychosis". at the Schizophrenia Bulletin last month. The results show that cannabis does not worsen the experience of schizophrenia and this can really help.



What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychological disorder that affects approximately 1% of the American population. The signs and symptoms of the condition are often divided into two categories: positive symptoms and negative symptoms.


The positive symptoms are those that are not experienced by the general

population AND Their common examples include hallucinations and psychosis.


Adverse symptoms, on the other hand, are defects in normal functions. They are usually more difficult to treat than positive behavioural symptoms. Some examples of negative symptoms include lack of emotion and inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia).


There is no cure for schizophrenia and the existing treatments are mainly about controlling the symptoms. Many of the commonly used treatments have the potential to cause a number of side effects, including increased sensitivity to light, seizures and attention deficit.


Because of this, researchers have been looking for a type of treatment with a less active side effect profile. A Brazilian study published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology determined that CBD (cannabidiol) could provide the kind of sensory improvement (the brain's ability to block unnecessary information) needed to treat schizophrenia.


Researchers investigate Cannabis and Schizophrenia

Led by Dr. Christine Barrowclough, the British research team set out to examine how cannabis affects the outcome of clinical treatment for schizophrenia. They were particularly interested in whether changing the patients' eating habits affected their psychotic and functional symptoms, functionality and the possibility of psychotic relapse.


Dr. Barrowclough's research team collected a sample of 110 people at the onset of psychosis, with a coexisting diagnosis of cannabis abuse or addiction (according to the DSM). The study consisted of repeated measures of substance abuse at four different time points (initial, 4.5 weeks, 9 weeks, 18 weeks) and random incision models to determine: a) the effects of a dose of Cannabis on subsequent clinical outcomes; and b) whether changes in a dose of Cannabis are associated with changes in clinical outcome.


According to the results, "There was no evidence of a specific association between cannabis use and positive symptoms, adverse symptoms, relapse or hospitalization."

However, Dr. Barrowclough says higher doses of cannabis have been linked to higher levels of anxiety and depression.

Interestingly, the reduction in the amount of cannabis consumed led to a statistically significant change in stress levels, but the depression remained unaffected. Cognitive function improved when cannabis intake was also reduced.

It is worth noting that patients who consumed Cannabis showed an improvement in cognitive function overall. "Cannabis use was associated with improved overall function, a finding that was also evident in our previous study with a sample of patients with a long history."

In conclusion, Dr. Barrowclough's research team determined that lower doses of cannabis "may be directly linked to improved stress and cognitive function in schizophrenic patients, but not other specific symptoms." They call for further research in order to gain a deeper understanding of this "clinically important field of study".

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