Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve the symptoms of schizophrenia.
J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009 Jun; 29(3):255-8.JC

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

Aggregator Full Text

Authors+Show Affiliations

Schwarcz G
Rockland Psychiatric Center, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. gs2272@columbia.edu
Karajgi B
No affiliation info available
McCarthy R
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAntipsychotic AgentsDronabinolFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMalePsychiatric Status Rating ScalesPsychometricsPsychotropic DrugsSchizophreniaSchizophrenic PsychologySeverity of Illness IndexTreatment OutcomeYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Clinical Trial
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

19440079

Citation

Schwarcz, Glenn, et al. "Synthetic Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) Can Improve the Symptoms of Schizophrenia." Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol. 29, no. 3, 2009, pp. 255-8.
Schwarcz G, Karajgi B, McCarthy R. Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;29(3):255-8.
Schwarcz, G., Karajgi, B., & McCarthy, R. (2009). Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(3), 255-8. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181a6bc3b
Schwarcz G, Karajgi B, McCarthy R. Synthetic Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) Can Improve the Symptoms of Schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2009;29(3):255-8. PubMed PMID: 19440079.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol) can improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. AU - Schwarcz,Glenn, AU - Karajgi,Basawaraj, AU - McCarthy,Richard, PY - 2009/5/15/entrez PY - 2009/5/15/pubmed PY - 2009/8/4/medline SP - 255 EP - 8 JF - Journal of clinical psychopharmacology JO - J Clin Psychopharmacol VL - 29 IS - 3 N2 - 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. SN - 1533-712X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/19440079/Synthetic_delta_9_tetrahydrocannabinol__dronabinol__can_improve_the_symptoms_of_schizophrenia_ L2 - https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181a6bc3b DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -