Schizophrenia and cannabis

Psychosis is often considered one of the most serious mental disorders. At its peak, its adverse effects are perhaps even more profound than generalized depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety. Psychosis represents a complete detachment from the world of reality. This is when individuals begin to behave very erratically and can no longer distinguish between what is real and what is not.

Psychosis is a syndrome comprising several symptoms. It is also one of the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia.

Some say that without psychosis, there is no schizophrenia. However, having psychosis alone doesn't mean you're schizophrenic, as other symptoms are necessary. What's more, the work of psychiatrist Alexandre Loch, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, suggests that schizophrenia is not a psychotic disorder at all!

It seems unlikely that a natural therapy like CBD, or any other drug, would be effective in reversing the onset of the disease. However, studies analyzing the effects of CBD on schizophrenia and psychosis are ongoing. In fact, scientists are beginning to look specifically at cannabidiol as a possible treatment.

In this article, we'll review some of these recent and relevant studies. They show that CBD for psychosis is a potential treatment option. Remember, cannabidiol is NOT a cure for the severe stages of schizophrenia or psychosis. However, it can potentially help patients manage symptoms.

What happens during schizophrenia?

Scientists are not entirely sure of the precise causes of the onset of psychosis or schizophrenia. They don't know why some people develop psychotic symptoms, and others don't. Unlike pathologies such as diabetes or heart disease, no one has identified an exact physiological condition at the root of this disorder.

However, it is generally accepted that a combination of physical, genetic and environmental influences are responsible for the onset of this disorder.

Genetically, for example, schizophrenia tends to run in families. A person with a family member who has experienced psychotic episodes in the past is potentially more likely to develop the disease. However, no single gene has been identified as responsible for the onset of the disease.

Similarly, research suggests that people with psychosis undergo changes in the physical structure of the brain. Although subtle, it is thought that these changes may result in chemical depletion or dysfunction, leading to a separation from reality.

Neurotransmitters may also play a role in the onset of psychosis and schizophrenia. These are chemical substances present in the brain that relay messages between cells. Irregularities in their activity (particularly dopamine and serotonin) are thought to have a major influence on the development of symptoms.

As far as environmental triggers are concerned, elements such as stress and substance abuse can play a role in the onset of the disease. This is particularly the case when they are associated with one of the chemical/physical irregularities mentioned above.

Finally, in terms of prevalence, it's likely that psychosis is more common than we think. According to the World Health Organization, schizophrenia affects 20 million people worldwide[1]. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) suggests that up to 3 % of the US population suffers from psychosis[2].

CBD for schizophrenia: how can it help?

Please note that CBD oil is the most popular type of cannabidiol. The vast majority of medical patients prefer this method because it doesn't involve smoking and doesn't produce a high.

There are some encouraging signs from recent research. Bhattacharyya et al. published the results of a randomized clinical trial in the journal JAMA Psychiatry in November 2018. It consisted of brain imaging, which suggested that CBD could reduce symptoms of psychosis. The cannabinoid achieved this by resetting activity in three different parts of the brain.

The study involved 33 volunteers, all with psychotic symptoms. There were also 19 people who had never experienced a psychotic episode. They acted as a control group. Half of the people with psychosis received 600 mg of CBD in a single oral dose. The other half took a placebo. The control group received no medication.

Next, all participants were asked to perform a memory task involving three parts of the brain linked to the onset of psychosis. These were the striatum, the midbrain and the medial temporal cortex. The researchers scanned all participants with an MRI scanner during the task. Scans of patients with psychosis showed abnormal activity compared with the control group.

However, those who consumed CBD showed less severe abnormalities than those in the placebo group. The researchers believe this is a sign that high doses of CBD could reset abnormal activity in certain brain regions.

This was a small study, with limitations that made it impossible to take into account all the factors likely to influence the results. Nor were the researchers able to determine whether the effect was only short-term. Nevertheless, this is a positive step forward.

Other studies on CBD, psychosis and schizophrenia

A study by McGuire et al, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry in March 2018, looked at CBD as an adjunctive therapy in schizophrenia. It involved a double-blind, parallel-group trial. Schizophrenia patients received either 1000mg of CBD per day or a placebo.

After six weeks, the CBD group had significantly lower levels of positive psychotic symptoms than the placebo group. In addition, they were more likely to say they were «improved» and less likely to say they were «seriously ill». Patients also reported tolerating the compound fairly well.

Batalla et al had a systematic review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in July 2019. The researchers examined the potential of CBD as a treatment for psychosis and addiction. They found that in some studies, CBD was an effective treatment for psychosis. However, the review highlighted that CBD dosage and administration varied. In addition, many studies did not describe the source of CBD. Even so, there was sufficient evidence to warrant further study.

The final word on CBD for schizophrenia and psychosis

The most important thing to mention about CBD for schizophrenia is that there is no cure or quick fix for this disorder.

However, CBD has the potential to treat some of the symptoms. It could alleviate onset symptoms and reduce the frequency of intermittent psychotic episodes. Hopefully, it will offer some sort of solution to the millions of people around the world who have no access to treatment.

Pharmaceutical drugs and expensive antipsychotics are not an option for many who need treatment. CBD is effective and represents a healthy, natural option that is more widely available.