Abstract
Public concern on mental health has noticeably increased given the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders. Cognition and emotionality are the most affected functions in neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e., anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia. In this review, most relevant literature on the role of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system in neuropsychiatric disorders will be presented. Evidence from clinical and animal studies is provided for the participation of CB1 and CB2 receptors (CB1R and CB2R) in the above mentioned neuropsychiatric disorders. CBRs are crucial in some of the emotional and cognitive impairments reported, although more research is required to understand the specific role of the eCB system in neuropsychiatric disorders. Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychotropic component of the Cannabis sativa plant, has shown therapeutic potential in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Although further studies are needed, recent studies indicate that CBD therapeutic effects may partially depend on facilitation of eCB-mediated neurotransmission. Last but not least, this review includes recent findings on the role of the eCB system in eating disorders. A deregulation of the eCB system has been proposed to be in the bases of several neuropsychiatric disorders, including eating disorders. Cannabis consumption has been related to the appearance of psychotic symptoms and schizophrenia. In contrast, the pharmacological manipulation of this eCB system has been proposed as a potential strategy for the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and anorexia nervosa. In conclusion, the eCB system plays a critical role in psychiatry; however, detrimental consequences of manipulating this endogenous system cannot be underestimated over the potential and promising perspectives of its therapeutic manipulation.
Highlights
Psychiatric disorders severely compromise the well-being of those affected causing serious psychological distress in the general population
CONCLUDING REMARKS Evidence for a critical role of the eCB system in neuropsychiatric disorders has been provided, and special attention has been paid to its contribution to the emotional and cognitive deficits compromised in these disorders
CB1Rs, and CB2Rs and CBD, through facilitation of eCB-mediated neurotransmission, have been involved in the emotional and cognitive deficits reported in anxiety disorders, depression, and schizophrenia
Summary
Endocannabinoid system and psychiatry: in search of a neurobiological basis for detrimental and potential therapeutic effects. CB1Rs, as mentioned above (A Brief Update on the Endocannabinoid (eCB) System), is widely distributed in brain areas associated with emotional regulation and stress responsiveness such as prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus (Mackie, 2005), a role for eCB signaling in anxiety-related disorders might be suggested. Genetic depletion of the CB1R resulted in a “depressive-like” phenotype at the preclinical level; CB1KO mice displayed an anhedonic state, emotional changes, cognitive deficits, an increased HPA axis activity as well as impairments in stress adaptation (reviewed by Vinod and Hungund, 2006; Parolaro et al, 2010; Gorzalka and Hill, 2011). Further investigation is necessary to understand the clinical limits of such manipulation that may differ among sexes, age, and individuals
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