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    Home / Articles / Hemp therapy and stories / Can Hemp Help with Psychosis? New Research Suggests CBD May Offer Hope

    Can Hemp Help with Psychosis? New Research Suggests CBD May Offer Hope

    Author: Ondrej Stovicek

    Psychosis is a severe mental disorder characterized by a loss of connection with reality, often manifesting through hallucinations, delusions, and severe anxiety. Despite significant research, the exact cause of psychosis remains elusive, making it challenging to develop effective treatments. However, a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry offers promising insights into the potential of hemp, specifically cannabidiol (CBD), to help alleviate symptoms of psychosis.

    The Role of Hemp and Its Active Ingredients

    Hemp contains several active ingredients, with the most well-known being Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). While THC has been associated with the development of psychosis in some individuals, recent studies suggest that CBD might offer therapeutic benefits, particularly for those at high risk of developing psychotic disorders.

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    CBD: A Potential Breakthrough in Psychosis Treatment

    In the study conducted by a team of British researchers, CBD was shown to "restart" the brains of individuals at high risk of developing psychosis. The researchers administered a single dose of 600 milligrams of CBD to 33 people at high risk of psychosis and compared their brain activity to that of 19 healthy individuals. The results were striking: CBD significantly reduced abnormal brain activity in key areas associated with psychosis, including the striatum, medial temporal lobe, and midbrain, bringing it closer to normal levels.

    “These results could pave the way for the development of a new class of antipsychotic therapies,” said Sanjik Bhattacharya, Ph.D., professor of translational neuroscience and psychiatry at King’s College London and the lead author of the study. “While we knew from previous studies that CBD has antipsychotic effects, this study helps us understand how it works.”

    CBD and Its Impact on Brain Activity

    The study found that CBD specifically reduced activity in the caudate nucleus, a part of the midbrain associated with the clinical risk of psychosis. This normalization of brain activity suggests that CBD may be effective in mitigating the early symptoms of psychosis, even before a full diagnosis is made.

    This research builds on earlier studies, including one from December 2017, which showed that patients treated with CBD exhibited fewer psychotic symptoms and were less likely to be classified as psychotic by psychiatrists.

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    The Future of CBD in Psychosis Treatment

    One of the most promising aspects of CBD is its low potential for abuse, as it is non-psychoactive. The next step for the researchers is to conduct clinical trials to further investigate the efficacy of CBD as a treatment for psychosis. “If successful, these trials could provide definitive proof of CBD’s role as an antipsychotic treatment and lead to its use in clinical settings,” Bhattacharya explained. “Our findings are beginning to unravel the brain mechanisms behind a new medication that operates differently from traditional antipsychotics.”