TY - JOUR
T1 - Targeting the endocannabinoid system to treat anxiety-related disorders
AU - Korem, Nachshon
AU - Zer-Aviv, Tomer Mizrachi
AU - Ganon-Elazar, Eti
AU - Abush, Hila
AU - Akirav, Irit
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (grant no. 572/12 to I.A.) (http://www.isf.org.il/)
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 by De Gruyter 2016.
PY - 2016/5/1
Y1 - 2016/5/1
N2 - The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in the control of emotions, and its dysregulation has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders. The most common self-reported reason for using cannabis is rooted in its ability to reduce feelings of stress, tension, and anxiety. Nevertheless, there are only few studies in controlled clinical settings that confirm that administration of cannabinoids can benefit patients with a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are considerable encouraging preclinical data to suggest that endocannabinoid-targeted therapeutics for anxiety disorders should continue. In this review, we will describe data supporting a role for the endocannabinoid system in preventing and treating anxiety-like behavior in animal models and PTSD patients. Cannabinoids have shown beneficial outcomes in rat and mouse models of anxiety and PTSD, but they also may have untoward effects that discourage their chronic usage, including anxiogenic effects. Hence, clinical and preclinical research on the endocannabinoid system should further study the effects of cannabinoids on anxiety and help determine whether the benefits of using exogenous cannabinoids outweigh the risks. In general, this review suggests that targeting the endocannabinoid system represents an attractive and novel approach to the treatment of anxiety-related disorders and, in particular, PTSD.
AB - The endocannabinoid system plays an important role in the control of emotions, and its dysregulation has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders. The most common self-reported reason for using cannabis is rooted in its ability to reduce feelings of stress, tension, and anxiety. Nevertheless, there are only few studies in controlled clinical settings that confirm that administration of cannabinoids can benefit patients with a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are considerable encouraging preclinical data to suggest that endocannabinoid-targeted therapeutics for anxiety disorders should continue. In this review, we will describe data supporting a role for the endocannabinoid system in preventing and treating anxiety-like behavior in animal models and PTSD patients. Cannabinoids have shown beneficial outcomes in rat and mouse models of anxiety and PTSD, but they also may have untoward effects that discourage their chronic usage, including anxiogenic effects. Hence, clinical and preclinical research on the endocannabinoid system should further study the effects of cannabinoids on anxiety and help determine whether the benefits of using exogenous cannabinoids outweigh the risks. In general, this review suggests that targeting the endocannabinoid system represents an attractive and novel approach to the treatment of anxiety-related disorders and, in particular, PTSD.
KW - anxiety-related disorders
KW - cannabinoids
KW - endocannabinoid system
KW - post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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U2 - 10.1515/jbcpp-2015-0058
DO - 10.1515/jbcpp-2015-0058
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26426887
AN - SCOPUS:84969804094
SN - 0792-6855
VL - 27
SP - 193
EP - 202
JO - Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology
JF - Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology
IS - 3
ER -