A Transdisciplinary Approach to Cannabis Addiction

描述(由申请人提供)：本申请建议对大麻滥用和依赖的推定内表型和候选遗传变异进行调查。越来越多的文献表明，经常吸食大麻和不经常吸食大麻的人对大麻急性影响的心理反应可能不同。拟议研究的目的是通过调查大麻使用频率和对大麻急性影响的主观反应之间的关系，在这一研究机构的基础上再接再厉。一个有希望的候选遗传基因座，CNR1SNP，rs2023239，也将被检查其与不同主观反应的内表型的关系及其功能意义。将招募经常和不经常吸食大麻的人来检查：1)对急性吸食大麻事件的心理反应是否存在群体间的显著差异，从而使经常吸食大麻的人报告的积极心理反应更多，而负面心理反应更少；2)SNP对主观反应的影响是否中介其对大麻使用频率的影响；以及3)CNR1SNP在大麻受体基因功能方面的功能意义是什么。这些发现将有助于发展与大麻使用相关的精神病理学的内表型。正如申请书中所讨论的，大麻的问题使用是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。大麻是美国和世界大部分地区最常用的非法药物，越来越多的吸毒者表示难以控制自己的大麻使用。这项拟议的研究将通过尝试识别使人们更有可能产生大麻滥用或依赖的遗传和行为标记，来帮助治疗问题大麻的使用。对这些标志物的了解将使卫生保健提供者能够创建有针对性的干预措施来治疗这些疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application proposes an investigation of a putative endophenotype and candidate genetic variant for cannabis abuse and dependence. A growing body of literature suggests that psychological reactions to the acute effects of marijuana may differ between frequent and infrequent cannabis users. The purpose of the proposed study is to build upon this body of research by investigating the relationship between frequency of marijuana use and subjective reactions to the acute effects of marijuana. A promising candidate genetic locus, the CNR1 SNP, rs2023239, will also be examined, with respect to its relationship to the endophenotype of differential subjective reaction and to its functional significance. Frequent and infrequent cannabis users will be recruited to examine: 1) whether a significant between-group difference in psychological reaction to an acute marijuana administration episode exists, such that frequent users report more positive and fewer negative psychological reactions; 2) whether the effect of the SNP on subjective reaction mediates its effect on frequency of cannabis use; and 3) what the functional significance of the CNR1 SNP is with respect to the function of the cannabinoid receptor gene. Findings will contribute to the development of an endophenotype of cannabis use-related psychopathology. As discussed in the application, problem use of marijuana presents a growing public health problem. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States and most of the world, and a growing percentage of users now report difficulties in controlling their marijuana use. The proposed research will aid treatment of problem marijuana use by attempting to identify genetic and behavioral markers that make people more likely to develop cannabis abuse or dependence. Knowledge of these markers will allow health care providers to create targeted interventions to treat these disorders.