Abnormal white matter integrity in synthetic cannabinoid users.
Synthetic cannabinoids have become increasingly popular in the last few years especially among adolescents and young adults. However, no previous studies have assessed the effects of synthetic cannabinoids on the structure of the human brain. Understanding the harms of synthetic cannabinoid use on brain structure is therefore crucial given its increasing use. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in 22 patients who used synthetic cannabinoids more than five times a week for at least 1 year and 18 healthy controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly reduced in the cannabinoid group compared to controls in a cluster of white matter voxels spanning the left temporal lobe, subcortical structures and brainstem. This cluster was predominantly traversed by the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, fornix, cingulum-hippocampus and corticospinal tracts. Long-term use of synthetic cannabinoids is associated with white matter abnormalities in adolescents and young adults. Disturbed brain connectivity in synthetic cannabinoid users may underlie cognitive impairment and vulnerability to psychosis.
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: zorlunabi@hotmail.com.
Nabi
N
Zorlu
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia.
Maria
M
Angelique Di Biase
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Çiğdem Çolak
ÇÇ
Kalaycı
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia.
Andrew
A
Zalesky
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Başak
B
Bağcı
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Nihan
N
Oğuz
Department of Radiodiagnostics, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Fazıl
F
Gelal
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Lütfullah
L
Beşiroğlu
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Şeref
Ş
Gülseren
Department of Psychiatry, Katip Celebi University, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
Aybala
A
Sarıçiçek
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia.
Emre
E
Bora
Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, VIC, Australia; Centre for Neural Engineering (CfNE), Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Melbourne, Carlton South, VIC, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience & Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Christos
C
Pantelis
D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
D002186:Cannabinoids; D015198:Designer Drugs
DTI; Synthetic cannabinoids; White matter