Phytocannabinoids and schizophrenia: Focus on adolescence as a critical window of enhanced vulnerability and opportunity for treatment.
Pharmacological research December 1, 2021 Tibor Stark, Serena Di Martino, Filippo Drago et al.
Adolescent cannabis use, especially of high-THC strains, is linked to long-term social and cognitive deficits in adulthood, as shown by both human and animal studies. Cannabis disrupts the endocannabinoid system, which normally regulates stress circuitry during brain development. Early intervention may prevent these adult deficits. Cannabidiol (CBD), the second most abundant compound in cannabis, is being studied as a potential treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. This review examines evidence that adolescent THC exposure represents a critical window of vulnerability, possibly contributing to schizophrenia, and also considers adolescence as a window of opportunity for early CBD treatment to reduce risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. The review covers CBD's efficacy for positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, its safety, and molecular targets.