Researchers at King’s College London say they have identified several molecular pathways that may help explain how heavy cannabis use can contribute to psychosis, in findings they believe could eventually support earlier risk detection and more targeted treatments.
While previous research has suggested that cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychotic disorders, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood.
The study, published in Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, analysed large-scale genetic data from people with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder to investigate the biological relationship between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and psychosis.
Using updated genome-wide association data, the research team conducted a meta-analysis combining cases of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder into a broader psychosis category designed to better reflect real-world patterns of cannabis-related psychosis reported in epidemiological studies.
The analysis identified more than 500 genetic loci associated with psychosis, including 122 previously unreported associations.
Researchers also found a greater overlap between biological pathways linked to psychosis and cannabis use disorder than would be expected by chance, suggesting a close relationship between the two conditions.
Professor Marta Di Forti, professor of drug use, genetics and psychosis at King’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and senior author of the study, said the findings could help improve understanding of who may be most vulnerable to potential cannabis-related harms.
“As conversations around cannabis use increasingly turn to whether it should be legalised, there is an ever-increasing need to improve how we identify those at greatest risk from heavy use, as well as to develop tailored interventions for those who have experienced psychosis in the context of cannabis use,: she explained.
“Our study supports previous evidence of a bidirectional causal association between psychosis to cannabis use, but importantly, with a larger magnitude of causal association from CUD to Psychosis.”
The team identified three separate groups of genetic variants potentially involved in the pathway from cannabis use disorder to psychosis, including genes linked to neurodevelopment and neuronal signalling.
Researchers say these findings may help explain why some individuals appear more susceptible to psychotic disorders associated with cannabis use than others.
Di Forti continued: “This can potentially explain how cannabis use leads to psychosis. Only one group of causal genetic variants was identified from psychosis to CUD, suggesting less variation in how psychosis can lead to heavy cannabis use; reflecting what we see in clinic.”
The study also highlighted the possible role of glutamate-related genes in predicting psychosis risk among cannabis users. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter system known to be affected by THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Di Forti added: “In time, this could provide the groundwork for prediction models that identify those most at risk, as well as informing the development of new targeted treatments.”
Dr Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman, a research associate at King’s IoPPN and the study’s first author said the findings reveal that the biology linking cannabis use and psychosis is “complex” and might work through “multiple mechanisms”.
“This is a step towards understanding the potentially different etiology in psychosis with and without cannabis use,” she added.
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While previous research has suggested that cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of psychotic disorders, the underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood.
The study, published in Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science, analysed large-scale genetic data from people with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder to investigate the biological relationship between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and psychosis.
Using updated genome-wide association data, the research team conducted a meta-analysis combining cases of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder into a broader psychosis category designed to better reflect real-world patterns of cannabis-related psychosis reported in epidemiological studies.
The analysis identified more than 500 genetic loci associated with psychosis, including 122 previously unreported associations.
Researchers also found a greater overlap between biological pathways linked to psychosis and cannabis use disorder than would be expected by chance, suggesting a close relationship between the two conditions.
Professor Marta Di Forti, professor of drug use, genetics and psychosis at King’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) and senior author of the study, said the findings could help improve understanding of who may be most vulnerable to potential cannabis-related harms.
“As conversations around cannabis use increasingly turn to whether it should be legalised, there is an ever-increasing need to improve how we identify those at greatest risk from heavy use, as well as to develop tailored interventions for those who have experienced psychosis in the context of cannabis use,: she explained.
“Our study supports previous evidence of a bidirectional causal association between psychosis to cannabis use, but importantly, with a larger magnitude of causal association from CUD to Psychosis.”
The team identified three separate groups of genetic variants potentially involved in the pathway from cannabis use disorder to psychosis, including genes linked to neurodevelopment and neuronal signalling.
Researchers say these findings may help explain why some individuals appear more susceptible to psychotic disorders associated with cannabis use than others.
Di Forti continued: “This can potentially explain how cannabis use leads to psychosis. Only one group of causal genetic variants was identified from psychosis to CUD, suggesting less variation in how psychosis can lead to heavy cannabis use; reflecting what we see in clinic.”
The study also highlighted the possible role of glutamate-related genes in predicting psychosis risk among cannabis users. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter system known to be affected by THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis.
Di Forti added: “In time, this could provide the groundwork for prediction models that identify those most at risk, as well as informing the development of new targeted treatments.”
Dr Isabelle Austin-Zimmerman, a research associate at King’s IoPPN and the study’s first author said the findings reveal that the biology linking cannabis use and psychosis is “complex” and might work through “multiple mechanisms”.
“This is a step towards understanding the potentially different etiology in psychosis with and without cannabis use,” she added.
The post Genetic Link Between Cannabis Use and Psychosis Could Help Identify Those at Risk — Study appeared first on Cannabis Health News.
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