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Much remains unknown about the role of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in first-episode psychosis (FEP). European investigators conducted two positron emission tomography studies of cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1Rs) in a total of 27 men with FEP (mean age, 27) and in 31 age-matched healthy men; participants did not have cannabis use disorder.
The two studies used different radiotracers and differed by whether or not patients were taking medication. In both samples, CB1R availability was significantly lower in various regions in medicated and unmedicated patients than in controls. In exploratory analyses, lower CB1R availability was associated with more severe psychotic symptoms and with worse cognitive function as determined by a single measu…