Cannabinoid System Dysregulation in PTSD

The consolidation of emotionally aversive memories that underlies the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs via a synergistic interaction between stress-induced cortisol and norepinephrine inputs into the amygdala, which are modulated by endocannabinoid signaling. These researchers examined availability of cannabinoid 1 (CB₁) receptors during resting positron emission tomography in 25 untreated PTSD patients, 12 non-PTSD trauma controls, and 23 healthy controls. Cortisol and other possible biomarkers were also measured.

Compared with healthy and trauma controls, PTSD patients had significantly more CB₁ receptors (20% and 14% higher, respectively) both overall and in CB-rich and fear-relevant hippocampal, amygdala, and co…