The Role of the Endocannabinoids 2-AG and Anandamide in Clinical Symptoms and Treatment Outcome in Veterans with PTSD.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although current treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in war veterans are effective, unfortunately 30-50% still do not benefit from these treatments. Trauma-focused therapies, eg exposure therapy, are primarily based on extinction processes in which the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that poor treatment response on trauma-focused therapy due to extinction deficits may be associated with a poorly functioning ECS. The present study examined whether the endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) are associated with post-treatment symptom reduction.

Methods

Blood plasma levels of AEA and 2-AG were determined in war veterans with a PTSD diagnosis (n = 54) and combat

SUBMITTER: Leen NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9190205 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature