title: Endogenous cannabinoids in patients with schizophrenia and substance use disorder during quetiapine therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Fernand-Seguin Research Center, Louis-H Lafontaine Hospital and Biomedical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potvin
authors.forename: Edouard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kouassi
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Roch-Hugo
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.forename: Marc-André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Demers
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gendron
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Astarita
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piomelli
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stip
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000097:blood; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; C078814:anandamide