Psychiatric disorders have a complex etiology that involves an interaction among genetic and environmental factors. Among environmental factors linked to an increased risk of psychiatric disorders is the use of cannabinoids, which poses a major psychiatric risk when performed during adolescence, a critical phase of neurodevelopment where specific neuroplastic changes occur that determine later brain function. In particular, the prefrontal cortex, which regulates many superior brain functions, matures during adolescence, and disruption of this process may eventually deteriorate several high-order brain domains (i.e., cognition, emotionality, processing of stimuli) and favor the onset of psychiatric disorders. The link between cannabinoid use and increased risk of psychiatric disorders is evident in users of Cannabis and synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids seem to induce more severe psychiatric symptoms than natural cannabinoids and may either exacerbate existing psychoses or trigger new-onset psychoses, most likely because they act as full cannabinoid receptor agonists. Thus, natural and synthetic cannabinoids robustly affect dopamine and aminoacidergic neurotransmission impacting the development of cortical trajectories and functions. Recently, further concern on the risk of psychiatric disorders linked to cannabinoids use comes from the increasing popularity of vaping synthetic cannabinoids by means of e-cigarette devices, especially among youngsters. E-cigarettes containing cannabinoids are available in the market, but the effect of cannabinoids vaping on the brain are ill defined.

Webinar organised by the FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training on the SfN digital platform, Neuronline.

The FENS Committee on Higher Education and Training (CHET) and the SfN Neuroscience Training Committee (NTC) are working closely together to exchange in-depth information, share tools, and develop coordinated training activities for their members.