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Editorial
. 2016 Jun 1;173(6):551-3.
doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16030314.

The Epidemiology of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorders Among U.S. Adults: Science to Inform Clinicians Working in a Shifting Social Landscape

Wilson M Compton  1 , Ruben Baler  1
Affiliations
Editorial

The Epidemiology of DSM-5 Cannabis Use Disorders Among U.S. Adults: Science to Inform Clinicians Working in a Shifting Social Landscape

Wilson M Compton et al. Am J Psychiatry. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Compton reports ownership of stock in General Electric Co., 3M Co., and Pfizer Inc., unrelated to the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a core signaling mechanism that optimizes the balance between inhibition and excitation in multiple brain circuits. Retrograde activation of type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs) by ECs (i.e., 2-AG and anandamide) inhibits Ca2+ channels thereby decreasing neurotransmitter release. Thus, EC signaling is endowed with the strategic ability to enhance both local inhibitory and excitatory tone through depolarization-induced suppression of stimulation or depolarization induced suppression of inhibition, respectively. As a result, like many other key control mechanisms, and because of its fundamental pharmacological properties and broad distribution, the ECS can be viewed as the core of a “bow tie’ regulatory architecture where EC signaling is influenced by and in turn can influence a large number of normal and pathological processes (afferent and efferent blue triangles, respectively). B. A robust association between regular marijuana use, marijuana use disorder, and other, comorbid psychiatric conditions is consistent with the fact that exogenous administration of a cannabinoid like THC perturbs normal signaling through the ECS, leading to dysregulation of a broad range of neurotransmitters, inlcuding dopamine, serotonin, GABA and Glutamate, throughout a vast network of circuits that rely on the ECS to fine tune devepmental processes, adaptive behaviors, and overal brain performance. Thus, the neurobehavioral impact of THC-mediated interference of ECS function will vary depending on the time (developmental effects) and location (regional effects) of THC’s actions. Highlighted in this panel are the prefrontal cortex (maroon), anterior cingulate cortex (light purple), striatum with the NAc (yellow), and the hippocampus (blue) and some of the specific disruptions that may account for marijuana’s impact on cognition, motivation, and schizotipy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

References

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