Cannabis, Schizophrenia and Reward: Self-Medication and Agonist Treatment?

Summary

In this translational research proposal, based on our formulation, we seek to confirm and expand upon data obtained in our pilot study suggesting that cannabis and the cannabinoid agonist dronabinol, given in low dose to patients with schizophrenia and co-occurring cannabis use disorder, will in fact ameliorate the brain reward circuit dysregulation in these patients and, thereby, provide evidence in support of the role of cannabis as a "self-medication" agent for them.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Dual Diagnosis
• Psychotic Disorder
• Cannabis Use Disorder

Interventions

DRUG

Marijuana

Smoked plant with THC

DRUG

Dronabinol

Capsule with THC

DRUG

Placebo

Capsule with no active ingredient

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Columbia University

  collaborator OTHER

• Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

  collaborator OTHER

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Massachusetts General Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Vermont

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Mary F Brunette, MD · Dartmouth College

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-07-31

Primary Completion

2021-09-18

Completion

2021-09-18

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations