{"title":"The costs and benefits of cannabis control policies\u2029.","authors":"Wayne Hall","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/whall","DOIUrl":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/whall","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As is the case for most drugs, cannabis use has costs and benefits, and so do the policies that attempt to minimize the first and maximize the second. This article summarizes what we know about the harmful effects of recreational cannabis use and the benefits of medical cannabis use under the policy of prohibition that prevailed in developed countries until 2012. It outlines three broad ways in which cannabis prohibition may be relaxed, namely, the depenalization of personal possession and use, the legalization of medical use, and the legalization of adult recreational use. It reviews evidence to date on the impacts of each of these forms of liberalization on the costs and benefits of cannabis use. It makes some plausible conjectures about the future impacts of the commercialization of cannabis using experience from the commercialization of the alcohol, tobacco, and gambling industries. Cannabis policy entails unavoidable trade-offs between competing social values in the face of considerable uncertainty about the effects that more liberal cannabis policies will have on cannabis use and its consequences for better or worse.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 3","pages":"281-287"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/21/33/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-281.PMC7605025.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38683369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The legalization of cannabinoid products and standardizing cannabis-drug development in the United States: a brief report\u2029.","authors":"Jahan Marcu","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/jmarcu","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/jmarcu","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This brief report covers recent advances in cannabis and cannabinoid regulation and drug approval. The popularity of cannabis and cannabinoid products continues to rise, and these products are available for the majority of the population in the United States to purchase as easily as alcohol. Although many states have approved programs and research licenses, these activities and products all remain federally illegal. The solution may be for the United States to offer multiple pathways for product approval that adapt to the diversity of the products and the needs of the consumer. Multiple pathways for market approval would protect public health, whether the public is using cannabis and cannabinoids as a medicine, a wellness product, or as a recreational substance.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 3","pages":"289-293"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/35/74/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-289.PMC7605018.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38683370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rafael Maldonado, David Cabañero, Elena Martín-García
{"title":"The endocannabinoid system in modulating fear, anxiety, and stress\u2029.","authors":"Rafael Maldonado, David Cabañero, Elena Martín-García","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/rmaldonado","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/rmaldonado","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The endocannabinoid system is widely expressed in the limbic system, prefrontal cortical areas, and brain structures regulating neuroendocrine stress responses, which explains the key role of this system in the control of emotions. In this review, we update recent advances on the function of the endocannabinoid system in determining the value of fear-evoking stimuli and promoting appropriate behavioral responses for stress resilience. We also review the alterations in the activity of the endocannabinoid system during fear, stress, and anxiety, and the pathophysiological role of each component of this system in the control of these protective emotional responses that also trigger pathological emotional disorders. In spite of all the evidence, we have not yet taken advantage of the therapeutic implications of this important role of the endocannabinoid system, and possible future strategies to improve the treatment of these emotional disorders are discussed.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 3","pages":"229-239"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8a/bf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-229.PMC7605023.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38586549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The endocannabinoidome as a substrate for noneuphoric phytocannabinoid action and gut microbiome dysfunction in neuropsychiatric disorders\u2029.","authors":"Vincenzo Di Marzo","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/vdimarzo","DOIUrl":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/vdimarzo","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The endocannabinoid (eCB) system encompasses the eCBs anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, their anabolic/catabolic enzymes, and the cannabinoid CB<sub>1</sub> and CB<sub>2</sub> receptors. Its expansion to include several eCB-like lipid mediators, their metabolic enzymes, and their molecular targets, forms the endocannabinoidome (eCBome). This complex signaling system is deeply involved in the onset, progress, and symptoms of major neuropsychiatric disorders and provides a substrate for future therapeutic drugs against these diseases. Such drugs may include not only THC, the major psychotropic component of cannabis, but also other, noneuphoric plant cannabinoids. These compounds, unlike THC, possess a wide therapeutic window, possibly due to their capability of hitting several eCBome and non-eCBome receptors. This is particularly true for cannabidiol, which is one of the most studied cannabinoids and shows promise for the treatment of a wide range of mental and mood disorders. The eCBome plays a role also in the microbiota-gut-brain axis, which is emerging as an important actor in the control of affective and cognitive functions and in their pathological alterations.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 3","pages":"259-269"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/50/a0/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-259.PMC7605024.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38683367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First case report of tDCS efficacy in severe chemsex addiction\u2029.","authors":"Léo Malandain, Jean-Victor Blanc, Florian Ferreri, Timothée Giorgiadis, Sophie Mosser, Stéphane Mouchabac, Florence Thibaut","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/lmalandain","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.3/lmalandain","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chemsex is an escalating public health issue among men who have sex with men, with potentially severe somatic and psychiatric consequences. Given the limited knowledge and lack of treatment recommendations available in this area, we proposed the use of noninvasive brain stimulation in order to reduce problematic chemsex behavior. This is the first open-label case report of a positive effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a patient who was complaining of severe chemsex addiction. Total disappearance of chemsex behavior occurred after 5 days of daily sessions of right prefrontal cortex stimulation and did not return after 8 months of follow-up. The strengthening of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity may have modulated limbic pathways and reduced incentive salience and craving of both sexual addiction and concomitant illicit drug use.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 3","pages":"295-297"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/cc/88/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-295.PMC7605017.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38683371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adolescent development and growing divides in the digital age\u2029.","authors":"Candice L Odgers, Michaeline R Jensen","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/codgers","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/codgers","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescents are constantly connected to their devices, and concerns have been raised that this connectivity is damaging their development more generally, and their mental health in particular. Recent narrative reviews and meta-analyses do not support a strong linkage between the quantity of adolescents' digital technology engagement and mental health problems. Instead, it appears that offline vulnerabilities tend to mirror and shape online risks in ways that may further amplify mental health inequalities among youth. New approaches for supporting youth mental health, especially for vulnerable youth and those typically excluded from traditional services, are now both possible and required.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 2","pages":"143-149"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/26/c0/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-143.PMC7366942.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38190217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adolescent brain and the natural allure of digital media\u2029.","authors":"Jay N Giedd","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/jgiedd","DOIUrl":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/jgiedd","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The growing amount of screen time among adolescents has raised concerns about the effects it may have on their physical and psychological health. Although the literature is divided on whether the effects are mostly positive, neutral, or mostly negative, it is likely that the impacts will be highly individualized with a mixture of good and bad consequences for each person. Understanding behavioral and neurobiological phenomena of adolescence may help to guide research and interventions to optimize the benefits and minimize the risks. Particular aspects of adolescent development relevant to the issue include: (i) hunger for human connectedness; (ii) appetite for adventure; and (iii) desire for data.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 2","pages":"127-133"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/5e/f6/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-127.PMC7366946.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38190215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of the digital revolution \u2028on human brain and behavior: where \u2028do we stand?\u2029.","authors":"Martin Korte","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/mkorte","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/mkorte","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This overview will outline the current results of neuroscience research on the possible effects of digital media use on the human brain, cognition, and behavior. This is of importance due to the significant amount of time that individuals spend using digital media. Despite several positive aspects of digital media, which include the capability to effortlessly communicate with peers, even over a long distance, and their being used as training tools for students and the elderly, detrimental effects on our brains and minds have also been suggested. Neurological consequences have been observed related to internet/gaming addiction, language development, and processing of emotional signals. However, given that much of the neuroscientific research conducted up to now relies solely on self-reported parameters to assess social media usage, it is argued that neuroscientists need to include datasets with higher precision in terms of what is done on screens, for how long, and at what age.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 2","pages":"101-111"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/31/bf/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-101.PMC7366944.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38190213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Going digital: how technology use may influence human brains and behavior\u2029.","authors":"Margret R Hoehe, Florence Thibaut","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/mhoehe","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/mhoehe","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The digital revolution has changed, and continues to change, our world and our lives. Currently, major aspects of our lives have moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic, and social distancing has necessitated virtual togetherness. In a synopsis of 10 articles we present ample evidence that the use of digital technology may influence human brains and behavior in both negative and positive ways. For instance, brain imaging techniques show concrete morphological alterations in early childhood and during adolescence that are associated with intensive digital media use. Technology use apparently affects brain functions, for example visual perception, language, and cognition. Extensive studies could not confirm common concerns that excessive screen time is linked to mental health problems, or the deterioration of well-being. Nevertheless, it is important to use digital technology consciously, creatively, and sensibly to improve personal and professional relationships. Digital technology has great potential for mental health assessment and treatment, and the improvement of personal mental performance.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 2","pages":"93-97"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/2f/f9/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-93.PMC7366947.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38190212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Imogen H Bell, Jennifer Nicholas, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Andrew Thompson, Lucia Valmaggia
{"title":"Virtual reality as a clinical tool in mental health research and practice\u2029.","authors":"Imogen H Bell, Jennifer Nicholas, Mario Alvarez-Jimenez, Andrew Thompson, Lucia Valmaggia","doi":"10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/lvalmaggia","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.2/lvalmaggia","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Virtual reality (VR) is a potentially powerful technology for enhancing assessment in mental health. At any time or place, individuals can be transported into immersive and interactive virtual worlds that are fully controlled by the researcher or clinician. This capability is central to recent interest in how VR might be harnessed in both treatment and assessment of mental health conditions. The current review provides a summary of the advantages of using VR for assessment in mental health, focusing on increasing ecological validity of highly controlled environments, enhancing personalization and engagement, and capturing real-time, automated data in real-world contexts. Considerations for the implementation of VR in research and clinical settings are discussed, including current issues with cost and access, developing evidence base, technical challenges, and ethical implications. The opportunities and challenges of VR are important to understand as researchers and clinicians look to harness this technology to improve mental health outcomes.\u2029.</p>","PeriodicalId":54343,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience","volume":"22 2","pages":"169-177"},"PeriodicalIF":8.3,"publicationDate":"2020-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c9/70/DialoguesClinNeurosci-22-169.PMC7366939.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"38184374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}