Abstract

We are reporting improvement of symptoms of schizophrenia in a small group of patients who received the cannabinoid agonist dronabinol (synthetic Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Before this report, cannabinoids had usually been associated with worsening of psychotic symptoms. In a heuristic, compassionate use study, we found that 4 of 6 treatment-refractory patients with severe chronic schizophrenia but who had a self-reported history of improving with marijuana abuse improved with dronabinol. This improvement seems to have been a reduction of core psychotic symptoms in 3 of the 4 responders and not just nonspecific calming. There were no clinically significant adverse effects. These results complement the recent finding that the cannabinoid blocker rimonabant does not improve schizophrenic symptoms and suggest that the role of cannabinoids in psychosis may be more complex than previously thought. They open a possible new role for cannabinoids in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Schwarcz G, Karajgi B, McCarthy R

Institution

Rockland Psychiatric Center, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. gs2272@columbia.edu

Source

Journal of clinical psychopharmacology 29:3 2009 Jun pg 255-8

MeSH

Adult
Antipsychotic Agents
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychometrics
Psychotropic Drugs
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenic Psychology
Severity of Illness Index
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult

Pub Type(s)

Clinical Trial
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

19440079