cannabis psychosis dopamine
Conditions
Interventions
Exposure to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, psychoactive component of cannabis, 8 mg) and placebo
Sponsors
Maastricht University
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged between 18 and 50 2. Life-time use of cannabis without having experienced negative effects (e.g. bad trip, toxic psychosis) 3. BMI between 18.5 and 27 4. Having signed informed consent 5. Clinical diagnosis of non-affective schizophrenia or psychotic disorder according to DSM-IV (REFERS ONLY TO PATIENTS)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Head trauma 2. Respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological disease, severe renal or liver dysfunction 3. Alcohol use in excess of 5 units per day 4. Weekly use of illicit drugs (other than cannabis) 5. Current use of antipsychotic medication or medication known to interfere with the CB1 receptor (e.g. rimonabant) 6. Pregnancy and breastfeeding 7. Personal or family history of psychosis (REFERS ONLY TO HEALTHY CONTROLS)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| A. Striatal dopamine response after THC and placebo, as measured with PET and [18F]fallypride B. Psychotic experiences after THC and placebo, as measured with i) novel computer-assisted tasks and ii)clinical interviews | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| C. Influence of genetic variation | — |
Contacts
Public ContactRebecca Kuepper
Maastricht University Dept. Psychiatry and Neuropsychology PO Box 616 (loc. Vijverdal)
Outcome results
None listed