PRIMARY STUDY
GABA Deficits Enhance the Psychotomimetic Effects of Δ9-THC
Key Findings: In healthy volunteers, the combination of iomazenil, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inverse agonist, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produced significant increases in psychosis scores. THC alone also produced an increase in psychosis scores as well. By reducing GABA levels the psychosis-inducing effects of THC were enhanced, and this study supports previous evidence of the increased vulnerability of patients with schizophrenia to the psychotic effects cannabis.
Type of Study: Double Blind Clinical Trial
Study Sample Size: 27
Study Result: Negative
Research Location(s): United States
Year of Pub: 2015
Cannabinoids Studied: Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Synthetic Cannabinoid (unspecified)
Phytocannabinoid Source: Unspecified
Chemotype: Chemotype I
Receptors Studied: CB1
Ligands Studied: GABA
Dosage: THC (0.015 mg/kg intravenously)
Route of Administration: Injection
Citation: Radhakrishnan R, et al. GABA Deficits Enhance the Psychotomimetic Effects of Δ9-THC. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2015; 40:2047-56. doi: 10.1038/npp.2015.58
Authors: Radhakrishnan R, Skosnik PD, Cortes-Briones J, Sewell RA, Carbuto M, Schnakenberg A, Cahill J, Bois F, Gunduz-Bruce H, Pittman B, Ranganathan M, D'Souza DC
