The University of Oxford begins studying the use of medical cannabis in the treatment and prevention of psychosis. About a thousand volunteers are to be recruited
Scientists from the University of Oxford in the UK will test the effects of medical cannabis as a treatment for patients with a diagnosed tendency or psychosis. In total, 1,000 volunteers will be recruited for the clinical trial which will expand to other countries in Europe and North America.
- Einstein studies the use of medical cannabis against chronic migraine
- For the first time, Anvisa authorizes the planting of cannabis for scientific studies
Today, the main form of treatment for psychosis – a type of mental disorder characterized by disconnection from reality – is the use of antipsychotics. While effective for some patients, there is a risk of significant adverse effects. Additionally, some individuals simply don’t respond to the compounds, prompting more research, such as the one at Oxford.
What will the study with cannabis against psychosis be like?
To be recruited for research on the impact of cannabis use on the disorder, a patient must fall into one of the following groups:
- Individual at high clinical risk for psychosis;
- Person who has suffered a psychotic episode;
- Psychotics who have not responded to conventional treatment.
The thousand selected recruits will be divided into two groups, according to the drug they receive: medical cannabis extract or placebo (substance with no effect related to the condition). The study will be double-blind, meaning participants won’t know what they’re taking.
It should be noted that, in the experiment, a compound with 99% cannabidiol (CBD) will be used, a substance derived from the plant without any psychoactive ingredient. In the UK, this compound can already be used in children severely affected by seizures.
“Many people with psychosis are open to trying cannabidiol and previous small-scale studies have indicated that it has beneficial effects. In addition to treating already established psychosis, the study will also investigate whether cannabidiol can prevent the onset of psychosis in people with psychosis . high risk of developing it,” said Philip McGuire, professor of psychiatry at Oxford and leader of the study, in a statement.
New cannabis remedies
It is worth mentioning that, today, science is experiencing one of the best times to study the effects of cannabis on the human body. For many years this type of research was prohibited and even criminalised. However, growing evidence points to the benefits of plant-extracted products, when applied correctly and seriously studied.
In Brazil you can also view this opening in the search field. For example, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has authorised, for the first time, a cannabis plantation for scientific purposes. The space will be managed by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) and, from there, formulations against neurological and psychiatric disorders will be tested.
More recently, Anvisa has granted permission for the Albert Einstein Hospital investigates the use of cannabis in patients with chronic migraine. About 110 people could be recruited by the research, which could present new ways to use plant derivatives.
Source: University of Oxford
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