Study: Brain stimulation reduces marijuana use by 60% in schizophrenic patients with cannabis use disorder

By Nina Zdinjak

Despite its long history and tradition, there are still many unknowns when it comes to marijuana. Some claim that cannabis has countless benefits, others issue countless warnings. What is certain is that everyone seems to have an opinion and few are indifferent to the subject.

With more countries around the world adopting the plant, either for medicinal or recreational purposes, causing the industry to boom, there remains one glaring need: research.

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Despite the fact that more studies and information are available these days about marijuana and its effects on our physical and mental health, we’re still far from having it all figured out – if that’s even possible.

A new study led by the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and published in the journal NPJ Schizophrenia offers hope to those suffering from both schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder (CUD).

According to this new study, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is linked to a reduction in self-reported marijuana use by up to 60% in people with schizophrenia and a cannabis use disorder, according to Science Daily.

The important things first. What is Cannabis Use Disorder?

Although not often talked about in this era of marijuana legalization, chronic cannabis use is known to have caused cannabis use disorder. The condition causes marijuana withdrawal symptoms that stem from the development of an addiction and are often compared to those of nicotine withdrawal. Some of the most common cannabis withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, bad mood, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.

What about schizophrenia? How is this mental disorder related to cannabis? Then the research is poor. A chronic disease that affects around 20 million people seems to have an interesting relationship with cannabis, but not everything is entirely clear.

One thing, however, explains CAMH scientist Dr. Tony George: “People with schizophrenia suffer from cannabis use disorders at a high rate compared to the general population, and there is strong evidence that cannabis use worsens psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in these people.”

Study Highlights

George spoke about the positive results of the new study. “Despite the known harmful effects, there is currently no approved treatment for CUD with or without schizophrenia. These results suggest that rTMS may be a safe and effective way to reduce cannabis use in people with schizophrenia.”

The double-blind study, which is said to be the first of its kind to evaluate the effectiveness of rTMS in treating CUD in people with schizophrenia, was supported by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the CAMH Foundation.

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Interestingly, until relatively recently, brain stimulation technologies were typically used for treatment-resistant depression. Fortunately, recent studies have demonstrated the potential of rTMS in treating drug cravings for various substances in the general population.

In this study, participants at the Temerty Center for Therapeutic Brain Intervention at CAMH received rTMS treatment five times a week for one month, targeting the part of the brain that controls the reward system and executive function.

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Those given rTMS confirmed a reduction in cannabis use of up to 60% after 28 days and also reduced cravings compared to the control group who received fake rTMS.

The study authors explained that the lack of effective treatments for CUD in people with schizophrenia is due to the fact that people with mental illness are often excluded from CUD clinical trials.

RELATED: Study Finds Cannabis Use Disorder Decreasing Among Daily Users

“In addition to our ability to conduct brain stimulation clinical trials at the Temerty Center, CAMH also has one of the largest schizophrenia outpatient clinics in North America and state-of-the-art addiction treatment programs,” said Dr. George . “All of these factors make CAMH one of the few places in the world that can conduct such a study.”

The lead author of the study, Dr. Karolina Kozak Bidzinski added: “Recruitment for the study was difficult [] given the intensity of the time commitment required by the patients. The patients’ awareness of the negative effects of cannabis on their lives, the expected benefits of reducing their consumption and the perception of the various positive outcomes that would emerge throughout the duration of the study, allowed such a high number of patients to complete the study,” Bidzinski said.

“Hopefully, this work paves the way for further research to investigate the implications of rTMS as a treatment for cannabis use disorders in people with schizophrenia.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.