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The endocannabinoid system as a target for modelling psychosis

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Abstract

Introduction

Model psychosis is characterised by experimentally induced symptoms of withdrawal from reality, frequently accompanied by perceptual disturbances, thought disorders, delusional ideas and sometimes by hallucinations. These “altered states of consciousness” provide a long-standing and valid approach to enhance our understanding of certain aspects of schizophrenia.

Discussion

Targeting the endocannabinoid system to investigate its involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia became increasingly relevant with the discovery of this system and amounting epidemiological evidence for a deleterious influence of cannabis use on both manifestation and course of the disease. The majority of studies in the field are targeted to investigate drug effect of cannabis and cannabinoids not immediately related to psychosis.

Conclusion

In this review, we summarise studies relevant for or designed as model psychosis experiments. Based on the data available, we examine the contribution of these studies to an improved neurobiological assessment of endocannabinoid functioning in psychosis and schizophrenia. An outline for future studies in the field and cross-links to other approaches to model psychosis is provided.

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Disclosure and acknowledgements

The authors have nothing to disclose. This work was funded by the Stanley Medical Research Institute (01-315 and 03-NV-003 to FML), the Koeln Fortune Program (108-2000 and 136-2007 to FML) and the BMBF (01KN0706 to DK).

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Correspondence to F. Markus Leweke.

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Koethe, D., Hoyer, C. & Leweke, F.M. The endocannabinoid system as a target for modelling psychosis. Psychopharmacology 206, 551–561 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1591-7

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