TY - JOUR
T1 - The endocannabinoid system and its role in schizophrenia
T2 - A systematic review of the literature
AU - Ferretjans, Rodrigo
AU - Moreira, Fabrício A.
AU - Teixeira, Antônio L.
AU - Salgado, João V.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - Objective: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder whose mechanisms have remained only partially elucidated. The current proposals regarding its biological basis, such as the dopaminergic hypothesis, do not fully explain the diversity of its symptoms, indicating that other processes may be involved. This paper aims to review evidence supporting the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a neurotransmitter group that is the target of Cannabis sativa compounds, in this disorder. Methods: A systematic review of original papers, published in English, indexed in PubMed up to April, 2012. Results: Most studies employed genetics and histological, neuroimaging or neurochemical methods - either in vivo or post-mortem - to investigatewhether components of the ECS are compromised in patients. Overall, the data show changes in cannabinoid receptors in certain brain regions as well as altered levels in endocannabinoid levels in cerebrospinal fluid and/or blood. Conclusions: Although a dysfunction of the ECS has been described, results are not entirely consistent across studies. Further data are warrant to better define a role of this system in schizophrenia.
AB - Objective: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder whose mechanisms have remained only partially elucidated. The current proposals regarding its biological basis, such as the dopaminergic hypothesis, do not fully explain the diversity of its symptoms, indicating that other processes may be involved. This paper aims to review evidence supporting the involvement of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a neurotransmitter group that is the target of Cannabis sativa compounds, in this disorder. Methods: A systematic review of original papers, published in English, indexed in PubMed up to April, 2012. Results: Most studies employed genetics and histological, neuroimaging or neurochemical methods - either in vivo or post-mortem - to investigatewhether components of the ECS are compromised in patients. Overall, the data show changes in cannabinoid receptors in certain brain regions as well as altered levels in endocannabinoid levels in cerebrospinal fluid and/or blood. Conclusions: Although a dysfunction of the ECS has been described, results are not entirely consistent across studies. Further data are warrant to better define a role of this system in schizophrenia.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rbp.2012.07.003
DO - 10.1016/j.rbp.2012.07.003
M3 - Article
C2 - 23429846
AN - SCOPUS:84872925786
SN - 1516-4446
VL - 34
SP - 163
EP - 193
JO - Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria
JF - Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria
IS - SUPPL2
ER -