Journal article

Distinct effects of A9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on neural activation during emotional processing

P Fusar-Poli, J Crippa, S Bhattacharyya, SJ Borgwardt, P Allen, R Martin-Santos, M Seal, SA Surguladze, C O'Carrol, Z Atakan, AW Zuardi, PK McGuire

Archives of General Psychiatry | AMER MEDICAL ASSOC | Published : 2009

Abstract

Context: Cannabis use can both increase and reduce anxiety in humans. The neurophysiological substrates of these effects are unknown. Objective: To investigate the effects of 2 main psychoactive constituents of Cannabis sativa (δ9-tetrahydrocan-nabinol [δ9-THC] and cannabidiol [CBD]) on regional brain function during emotional processing. Design: Subjects were studied on 3 separate occasions using an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging paradigm while viewing faces that implicitly elicited different levels of anxiety. Each scanning session was preceded by the ingestion of either 10 mg of A9-THC, 600 mg of CBD, or a placebo in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled desi..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Psychiatry Research Trust, London, England. Dr Fusar-Poli is supported by the Guy's & St. Thomas' Charitable Foundation New Services and Innovations in Health Care. Drs Crippa and Zuardi are recipients of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnolo gico ( CNPq) ( Brazil) fellowships. Dr Bhattacharyya is supported by a joint Medical Research Council/Priory Clinical Research Training Fellowship Award from the Medical Research Council.