Niacin Flushing as Marker of Cannabis Effects on Arachidonic Acid Pathways in Schizophrenia
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Purpose
Increasing evidence suggests modulating effects of cannabinoids on time of onset, severity, and outcome of schizophrenia. Efforts to discover the underlying pathomechanism have led to the assumption of gene x environment interactions including premorbid genetical vulnerability and worsening effects of continuing cannabis use. For a main characteristic of psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is its affinity to biological membranes, which are known to be disturbed in schizophrenia patients and genetic high-risk populations.
Here we assess an hypothesised association between premorbid lipid disturbance and metabolic effects of external cannabinoids in schizophrenia.
Intensity of niacin (methylnicotinate) skin flushing, indicating disturbed prostaglandin-mediated processes, is used as peripheral marker of lipid-arachidonic acid pathways and investigated in cannabis consuming and non-consuming schizophrenia patients and in healthy controls. Methylnicotinate is applied in three concentrations onto the forearm skin. Flush response is assessed in three minute intervals over 15 min using optical reflection spectroscopy.
| Condition |
|---|
|
Schizophrenia Cannabis Abuse |
| Study Type: | Observational |
| Study Design: | Observational Model: Defined Population Observational Model: Natural History Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional Time Perspective: Prospective |
| Official Title: | First Detailed Study on Effects of Long Term Regular Cannabis Use on Arachidonic Acid-Prostaglandine Pathways in Schizophrenia |
| Estimated Enrollment: | 100 |
| Study Start Date: | February 2004 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | June 2005 |
Show Detailed Description Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients:
- acutely ill
- consecutively admitted
- diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria for paranoide schizophrenia.
- not treated or treated with atypical neuroleptic drugs
- cannabis use on a regular basis (≥ 0,5 g/d, at least 3 month) prior to admission or
- never use of cannabis apart from unique trials
- no use of any other drug or alcohol on a regular basis.
Controls:
- healthy volunteers recruited by newspaper advertisement
- cannabis user (duration and dose of cannabis use as in patients)or
- no cannabis experience at all
All cannabis consuming participants:
- positive for cannabinoids in urine test at the time of niacin testing
Exclusion Criteria:
Controls:
- current psychiatric diagnosis or psychiatric personal or family history.
All individuals:
- any current or history of skin disorders (eczema, atopical dermatitis, psoriasis)
- recent treatment with steroids or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid)
Contacts and Locations More Information
Additional Information:
No publications provided
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00376233 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | SMCANNIACIN |
| Study First Received: | September 13, 2006 |
| Last Updated: | October 11, 2006 |
| Health Authority: | Germany: Ethics Commission |
Keywords provided by University of Jena:
|
Schizophrenia, Cannabinoids, Arachidonic Acid, Niacin, Prostaglandins |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Marijuana Abuse Schizophrenia Substance-Related Disorders Mental Disorders Schizophrenia and Disorders with Psychotic Features |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 19, 2013