Featured Publications
Highs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans
Ranganathan M, De Aquino JP, Cortes-Briones JA, Radhakrishnan R, Pittman B, Bhakta S, D’Souza D. Highs and lows of cannabinoid-dopamine interactions: effects of genetic variability and pharmacological modulation of catechol-O-methyl transferase on the acute response to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in humans. Psychopharmacology 2019, 236: 3209-3219. PMID: 31187152, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05273-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOMT rs4680 polymorphismMemory deficitsCOMT genotypeVal/Val individualsRs4680 polymorphismSubjective effectsTest dayCatechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) enzymePsychotomimetic effectsCognitive effectsCognitive dataCannabinoid-dopamine interactionsAcute responseHuman brainIntravenous THCPlacebo-controlled studyRole of dopaminergicCatechol-O-methyl transferaseDopaminergic signalingAcute pharmacological inhibitionDeficitsCannabinoid effectsDopaminergic toneHealthy subjectsDrug development efforts
2018
The Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabinoids
De Aquino JP, Sherif M, Radhakrishnan R, Cahill JD, Ranganathan M, D'Souza D. The Psychiatric Consequences of Cannabinoids. Clinical Therapeutics 2018, 40: 1448-1456. PMID: 29678279, DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.03.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPsychiatric effectsPsychiatric disordersPre-existing psychiatric disordersCannabis useLong-term brain changesRates of cannabisNegative psychiatric outcomesNegative psychiatric effectsDose-dependent effectPublic mental healthCannabinoid exposureWithdrawal syndromeCannabis exposureAcute effectsBrain changesMood disordersPsychiatric outcomesGeneral populationPsychomotor functionHealthy individualsMedical cannabisPsychiatric consequencesChronic exposureSignificant impairmentMental health