Sometimes referred to as “The Holy Grail” of psychiatry, schizophrenia remains one of the most mysterious and disabling mental disorders affecting millions of people around the world and in the United States. It continues to stump psychiatry which is endlessly searching for the true causations of the disorder and better treatments. While there are traditional therapies for schizophrenia, researchers have been looking into the effects of CBD for this devastating illness since 1997.
Scope of the Illness
Schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. And while almost 75% of people diagnosed are sixteen to twenty-five years of age, there is a type which affects people much later in life known as “late life schizophrenia”. Roughly 21 million people around the world have schizophrenia (1.1% of the world’s population) and 3.5 million people in the United States have the disorder.
In terms of prognosis, 25% of people with schizophrenia will recover completely; 50% will improve over the course of their lives, and 25% will remain chronically ill and never recover. Besides the toll it takes on people’s lives, schizophrenia is a costly illness, with estimates in the U.S. around $32 to $65 billion annually. Unfortunately, between 33% to 50% of homeless people have schizophrenia and only half of them will receive any treatment.
Snapshot of Schizophrenia
The gold standard source for information on schizophrenia can be found in the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM 5 chapter entitled “Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders”. Some of the key features include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized thinking and speech
- Grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior
There are both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms mean the presence of behaviors not based in reality including hallucinations, delusions, confused thoughts and disorganized speech, trouble concentrating and movement disorders.
Negative symptoms, meaning the lack of functioning in thoughts and behaviors, include lack of motivation or pleasure, little to no eye contact, inappropriate emotional responses, poor hygiene, trouble with speech, difficulty carrying out activities of daily living and poor follow-through or initiation of projects or activities.
Traditional Treatment for Schizophrenia
Initial treatment begins with a comprehensive physical exam, making sure to rule out various mental or physical issues. A myriad of tests, screenings and a psychiatric evaluation will follow. The “Rule of Thumb” approach to treatment is to combine medications with therapy. The hope is to target certain neurotransmitters in the brain that may be causing psychotic symptoms while helping the individual to cope and live a more quality life.
In terms of medications, there are many antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety medications and more to prescribe. The mantra in psychiatry is “Start low. Go slow”. Meaning to start the individual on the lowest effective amount of medication and monitor for results over a period of time.
In cases where the disorder is extreme, hospitalization may be required to help stabilize the individual and get them back into the community as safely as possible. Some people will require lifelong treatment and services. The ultimate goal of treatment is to reduce and manage symptoms using the lowest possible doses of medications while the person lives their best life.
Research Findings on CBD and the Endocannabinoid System and Schizophrenia
It’s hard to believe, but research in this area goes back to the mid-to-late 90s when researchers were stating that the endocannabinoid system and in particular, anandamide (a fatty acid neurotransmitter) may play an important role in the treatment of schizophrenia. Anandamide is sometimes called the “bliss” or “happy” molecule and is responsible for motivation, memory, control of movements and higher thought processes, and may restore cognitive balance and regulate perceptual processes.
The Importance of Anandamide
Some researchers have found that anandamide levels of untreated people diagnosed with schizophrenia were eight times higher than in people without schizophrenia. Anandamide appears to increase in people with acute schizophrenia as a way for the body to compensate for the disorder – almost like an autoimmune response does for infections. CBD has been found to increase anandamide signaling which then helps to manage several symptoms of schizophrenia.
Is It Dopamine or Not?
Investigators from Germany found a complicated interaction between the system that produces dopamine (dopaminergic system) and the endocannabinoid system. Dopamine has long been thought to be behind the symptoms of schizophrenia and has been called the “Dopamine Hypothesis”. The interaction between the two systems may play a large part in the development of schizophrenia.
CB1 Receptors in the Brain
A scientific team from Montreal believe that a disturbance within the endocannabinoid system could lend information about the development of schizophrenia. CB1 receptors, for example, are found in great quantities in several parts of the brain associated with schizophrenia including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia.
CBD’s Antipsychotic Properties
Australian scientists found some of the most consistent antipsychotic properties of CBD which improved several areas of schizophrenia including neuropsychological performance and a reduction in negative symptoms. They report that CBD has a restorative effect on neurotransmitter dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia and Inflammation
It is well known that chronic inflammation plays a key role in numerous illnesses and diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. It is now thought that inflammation also is an underlying cause of schizophrenia. Studies have shown increased blood concentration of inflammatory cytokines (essential inflammation-regulating molecules that also play an important role in the immune system) in people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
General Findings
It is also established that CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective qualities, provides anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, and has been found effective for sleep regulation, and hormone-balancing properties. Some experts say that CBD has a pharmacological profile similar to some antipsychotic drugs, but without the side effects.
Final Thoughts on Schizophrenia and CBD
Schizophrenia has been and seems to persist as a very difficult mental disorder to successfully treat. There is as much unknown about the disorder as there is known. While traditional medicine has developed pharmaceuticals and various treatment modalities, many people with schizophrenia will continue to suffer. Although more research needs to be done, CBD is safe, well-tolerated, has no serious side effects, and best of all is showing good results in symptom management and quality of life.