30/04/2007 16:00:00
UK: Cannabis chemical may help schizophrenia
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A British and German study suggested an active ingredient in cannabis
reduced symptoms in schizophrenia patients.
The study, by the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London and
the University of Cologne in German, found that cannabidiol, a chemical
found in cannabis, may reduce symptoms in schizophrenia patients, The
Guardian reported Thursday.
Previous research found that another main ingredient in the drug,
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, has the opposite effect. Researchers
believe THC worsens schizophrenia symptoms and can sometimes trigger the
condition in some patients.
"One possibility is that there are good guys and bad guys within
cannabis," said Markus Leweke, of the University of Cologne. The
research team compared the effects of cannabidiol and anti-psychotic
drug Amisulpride on 42 schizophrenia patients. They found that both
groups had improved after four weeks of treatment, but the cannabidiol
group experienced fewer side effects from the treatment.
"Maybe the cannabidiol ameliorates some of the effects of the THC and
maybe it actually might be good for you if you are psychotic," said
Robin Murray, of the Institute of Psychiatry at King ' s College London.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/57997.html
Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=12503
Author:
Earthtimes.org via UKCIA
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