The Role of Cannabis within an Emerging Perspective on Schizophrenia
1
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
2
Department of Economics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicines 2018, 5(3), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5030086
Received: 10 June 2018 / Revised: 6 July 2018 / Accepted: 31 July 2018 / Published: 8 August 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cannabinoids for Medical Use)
Background: Approximately 0.5% of the population is diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia, under the prevailing view that the pathology is best treated using pharmaceutical medications that act on monoamine receptors. Methods: We briefly review evidence on the impact of environmental forces, particularly the effect of autoimmune activity, in the expression of schizophrenic profiles and the role of Cannabis therapy for regulating immunological functioning. Results: A review of the literature shows that phytocannabinoid consumption may be a safe and effective treatment option for schizophrenia as a primary or adjunctive therapy. Conclusions: Emerging research suggests that Cannabis can be used as a treatment for schizophrenia within a broader etiological perspective that focuses on environmental, autoimmune, and neuroinflammatory causes of the disorder, offering a fresh start and newfound hope for those suffering from this debilitating and poorly understood disease.
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Keywords:
schizophrenia; cannabis; marijuana; autoimmunity; monoamine therapy; mental illness; cannabidiol; tetrahydrocannabinol; endocannabinoid system
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MDPI and ACS Style
Diviant, J.P.; Vigil, J.M.; Stith, S.S. The Role of Cannabis within an Emerging Perspective on Schizophrenia. Medicines 2018, 5, 86.
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