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".

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growing Cannabis for Beginners - 4 methods of Germination

Image
 Seed germination is the first stage that every cannabis grower who does not work with cuttings goes through, and the first stage in the natural life cycle of the cannabis plant. The germination process can take up to two weeks but is extremely simple, and requires mostly basic conditions like water, air and a pleasant temperature. Although cannabis seeds are known to be very strong and resilient and therefore can germinate in almost any soil and under any conditions, there are 4 main methods and a number of recommended tips for a successful germination process: The natural life cycle of the cannabis plant begins, like any other plant, from being a small seed waiting to germinate and take root in the soil to grow and flower. This is therefore the first step in the path of any beginning cannabis grower (after the set-up train ) and also of veteran growers who prefer not to work with cuttings. The first thing to know about sprouting cannabis seeds is that you usually do not have to do to
Read more

Blueberry Cannabis Bud Pancakes Recipe

Image
Blueberry pancakes can be made in conjunction with blueberry marijuana . Ingredients: 2 eggs 2 3/4 cups milk **see note below 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 tablespoons melted marijuana butter 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup fresh blueberries Instructions: Beat the eggs with a hand beater until light and fluffy, you're adding air. Beat in the remaining ingredients until the mixture is just smooth. Grease a heated griddle. Pour batter the size of the pancakes you desire. Cook the first side of the pancakes until puffed and the edges are dry, tiny bubbles will form. Turn and cook the other side until golden brown. Flip just once for best results. *note: Buttermilk, yogurt or sour cream can be substituted for some or all of the milk. This can cause the batter to become thick or thin, adjust accordingly with milk or flour. When you use a sour ingredient, cut the baking powder by 1/2 tablespoon and
Read more

CBD Nasal Sprays: Do They Really Work?

Image
  For people who regularly deal with nasal allergies or stuffy noses, nasal sprays are a must-have. These products deliver a thin mist of medication that drastically reduces the effects of nasal allergies, hence making them a great nasal decongestant for those who need it. Apart from this, these products can be used to deliver medicines that work elsewhere in the body. Since nostrils have a dense blood vessel concentration, these products work great due to their fast absorption. CBD nasal sprays are gaining quite a lot of popularity nowadays. They deliver the various unique benefits of cannabidiol and have the added advantage of absorbing relatively faster. Do CBD Nasal Sprays Really Work? CBD nasal spray does actually work. In fact, they work basically in the same way as a regular nasal spray. The key difference is that CBD nasal spray comes with the advantages that are associated with administering CBD. Although different manufacturers use different formulas for their products. The b
Read more