Endocannabinoids reduce psychotic symptoms

Anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid are eight-fold higher in first-episode paranoid schizophrenics than healthy controls.

Such an alteration is absent in schizophrenics already treated with "typical" antipsychotics. Furthermore, in non-medicated acute schizophrenics, cerebrospinal fluid anandamide level is negatively correlated with psychotic symptoms.

The results suggest that anandamide elevation in acute paranoid schizophrenia may reflect a compensatory adaptation to the disease state.