TY - JOUR
T1 - Endogenous cannabinoids in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder during quetiapine therapy
AU - Potvin, Stéphane
AU - Kouassi, Édouard
AU - Lipp, Olivier
AU - Bouchard, Roch Hugo
AU - Roy, Marc André
AU - Demers, Marie France
AU - Gendron, Alain
AU - Astarita, Giuseppe
AU - Piomelli, Daniele
AU - Stip, Emmanuel
PY - 2008/5
Y1 - 2008/5
N2 - Disturbances in the endogenous cannabinoid (ECB) system in schizophrenia may contribute to their enhanced sensitivity to psychoactive substances, and the beneficial effects of second-generation antipsychotics for substance abuse in schizophrenia may involve modulatory effects on ECB. To verify these two assumptions, 29 patients (24 completers) with schizophrenia and substance use disorders (SUD) were treated with quetiapine for 12 weeks, and peripheral ECB levels were measured, using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, in patients (weeks 0, 6 and 12) and 17 healthy volunteers. Baseline anandamide levels were significantly higher in patients, relative to controls. This result is consistent with studies describing ECB dysfunctions in schizophrenia. SUD parameters improved during treatment, but no changes in ECB occurred over time. Improvements in substance abuse were probably not mediated by modulatory effects of quetiapine on ECB. Lastly, baseline anandamide predicted endpoint SUD scores (alcohol/ cannabis). Anandamide is a potential target for medications aimed at relieving SUD in schizophrenia.
AB - Disturbances in the endogenous cannabinoid (ECB) system in schizophrenia may contribute to their enhanced sensitivity to psychoactive substances, and the beneficial effects of second-generation antipsychotics for substance abuse in schizophrenia may involve modulatory effects on ECB. To verify these two assumptions, 29 patients (24 completers) with schizophrenia and substance use disorders (SUD) were treated with quetiapine for 12 weeks, and peripheral ECB levels were measured, using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, in patients (weeks 0, 6 and 12) and 17 healthy volunteers. Baseline anandamide levels were significantly higher in patients, relative to controls. This result is consistent with studies describing ECB dysfunctions in schizophrenia. SUD parameters improved during treatment, but no changes in ECB occurred over time. Improvements in substance abuse were probably not mediated by modulatory effects of quetiapine on ECB. Lastly, baseline anandamide predicted endpoint SUD scores (alcohol/ cannabis). Anandamide is a potential target for medications aimed at relieving SUD in schizophrenia.
KW - Anandamide
KW - Cannabis
KW - Endogenous cannabinoids
KW - Quetiapine
KW - Schizophrenia
KW - Substance use disorders
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=45349104585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=45349104585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0269881107083816
DO - 10.1177/0269881107083816
M3 - Article
C2 - 18308802
AN - SCOPUS:45349104585
SN - 0269-8811
VL - 22
SP - 262
EP - 269
JO - Journal of Psychopharmacology
JF - Journal of Psychopharmacology
IS - 3
ER -