MJ as a Potential Treatment for Schizophrenia

At the end of August, researchers from the University of New Mexico published a study suggesting the potential use of MJ in the treatment of schizophrenia. The authors of the report, published last month in the journal Medicines, are psychologists Jegason Diviant and Jacob Vigil, along with their colleague Sarah Stith from the university’s economics department.

A Safe and Effective Method for Schizophrenia Therapy

In their work, the scientists used verified data from several previous studies that examined the influence of environmental factors, particularly the body’s autoimmune response, on the development of characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia. The researchers then studied the impact of MJ on the immune system, specifically its ability to modulate such responses.

As a result, the researchers concluded that MJ, both on its own and in combination with other medications, may be effectively used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. “A review of previously published studies on the use of phytocannabinoids in the treatment of schizophrenia and other mental disorders shows that MJ can be used as an accessible and effective means of treating the symptoms of the disease, both alone and in combination with other drugs,” the study’s conclusion states.

The authors recommend that doctors consider the possibility of including MJ or its extracts in clinical treatment plans for schizophrenia. “New data from laboratory and clinical trials of MJ indicate that it contains a complex mixture of psychoactive substances capable of modulating the intensity and frequency of schizophrenia symptoms by affecting the immune system and modulating the body’s response to tissue inflammation. In simple terms, phytocannabinoids have a therapeutic effect on the brain at the very source of the disease, unlike the widely used neuroleptics in schizophrenia therapy,” the study notes.

Currently, in the United States alone, one in every 200,000 people suffers from some form of schizophrenia. As the disease progresses, its symptoms only become more severe. Unfortunately, schizophrenia is considered incurable, but its symptoms can be managed to some extent with various neuroleptic medications.

“At least 0.5% of the world’s population suffers from some form of schizophrenia. The disease is considered incurable, as the only more or less effective treatment method is the use of substances that block the body’s monoamine receptors, which only slightly reduce the symptoms of psychosis,” the study states.

The Effectiveness of CBD in Treating Schizophrenia Symptoms

Although some earlier scientific works have noted that MJ may increase the risk of schizophrenia in certain individuals, research points to the high effectiveness of CBD in reducing the symptoms of the disease.

“A review of published studies provides ample evidence that CBD is an extremely safe and effective means of treating schizophrenia symptoms. Overall, CBD can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, as it significantly reduces inflammation in brain tissue, directly affecting one of the sources of the disease, and has a modulatory effect on the endocannabinoid system, which regulates the body’s natural biorhythms. The main advantage of CBD over antipsychotics is the absence of general suppression of active neural activity in the brain,” the report states.

One of the studies reviewed directly highlights the effectiveness of CBD extract in treating schizophrenia symptoms. “This study, conducted with two groups of patients diagnosed with different forms of schizophrenia, concluded that patients in the CBD group showed a significant reduction in symptoms compared to those who received a placebo,” the study notes.

An Incurable Disease

Schizophrenia is an incurable mental disorder that profoundly affects a person’s entire life. With the onset of symptoms, individuals can lose touch with reality. The exact causes of schizophrenia remain unknown: while scientists note a hereditary component passed down genetically, the disease can also be triggered by various external factors that alter brain chemistry. Currently, doctors can only manage the symptoms using antipsychotics, which significantly suppress neural activity and have many serious side effects.