Regional cerebral blood flow and depersonalization after tetrahydrocannabinol administration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between depersonalization induced by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and regional brain activation.


METHODS
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by means of positron emission tomography (PET) in 59 normal right-handed volunteers before and following intravenous infusions of THC.


RESULTS
After THC, CBF showed a global increase which was more marked in the right hemisphere, frontal lobes and anterior cingulate.


CONCLUSIONS
Regression analyses showed positive correlations between the right frontal and anterior cingulate and depersonalization.
Mathew
R J
RJ
Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Wilson
W H
WH
Chiu
N Y
NY
Turkington
T G
TG
Degrado
T R
TR
Coleman
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D006213:Hallucinogens; D013759:Dronabinol