Publications by authors named "Florence Morissette"

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been proposed to have a therapeutic potential over a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. Pre-clinical evidence suggests that CBD can increase anandamide (AEA) plasma concentration, possibly mediating some of its therapeutic properties. Whether CBD exerts such an effect on AEA in individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) remains unknown.

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Introduction: Evidence supporting associations between cannabis use and many health outcomes is growing, however it remains unclear how such associations vary across the lifespan. We therefore aim to answer the following questions: (1) Are the risks of cannabis's adverse effects on mental health and addiction-related outcomes different in adolescents than in adults? (2) What are the relationships between these cannabis's adverse effects and (a) an individual's age at first cannabis use, (b) age at assessment, and (c) duration of cannabis use?

Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO from inception to 18 October 2021. Two reviewers independently screened studies and descriptively synthesized results.

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Objectives: Individuals with a cocaine use disorder (CUD) are more likely to present anxiety, which in turn negatively impacts substance use outcomes. Some evidence suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) presents anxiolytic properties and could be a treatment for substance use disorders. This study explores CBD's effect on stress biomarker (cortisol) and anxiety symptoms in people with CUD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a significant public health issue that leads to various physical and mental health problems, and is linked to oxidative stress and inflammation.
  • This study explored the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on inflammatory markers in individuals with CUD, using a randomized controlled trial design with participants receiving either CBD or a placebo over 92 days.
  • Results indicated that those treated with CBD showed reduced levels of certain inflammatory markers and specific immune cell types, suggesting that CBD may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects for individuals struggling with CUD.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the impact of cannabis on individuals with psychosis, highlighting that its use is linked to more severe symptoms and poorer overall functioning.
  • A systematic review of the literature found only five relevant studies assessing preventive interventions for cannabis use in this population, all of which showed high risk of bias and no clear effectiveness in reducing cannabis use or related harms.
  • The authors stress the need for improved research on preventive measures, especially due to the increasing accessibility of cannabis and its potential risks for people with psychosis.
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