An exploratory study has analyzed metabolomic patterns related to psychotic-like experiences in teenagers, emphasizing the role of cannabis use.
A recent exploratory study at the University of Eastern Finland has investigated metabolomic patterns linked to psychotic-like experiences in adolescents, emphasizing the impact of cannabis consumption. The results imply that certain metabolic profiles associated with psychotic-like experiences may differ between those who use cannabis and those who do not, potentially indicating varying underlying molecular mechanisms.
The research involved analyzing blood samples from 76 adolescent outpatients suffering from depression, utilizing mass spectrometry to measure metabolite levels. The scientists discovered differences in lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, particularly concerning hallucinations. Notably, for adolescents who did not use cannabis, these experiences also showed connections to inflammatory metabolic changes. In contrast, alterations observed in cannabis users were mainly related to metabolites engaged in alternative brain energy processes, especially those associated with ketogenesis. While these findings are early-stage, they propose molecular distinctions in psychotic-like experiences between adolescents with and without cannabis use history. This research was published in Translational Psychiatry.
“It seems that varied metabolomic changes are linked to psychotic-like experiences depending on cannabis usage,” remarks Karoliina Kurkinen, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland and the study’s lead author.
“These changes do not inherently signify future psychosis or a psychotic disorder. However, it will be intriguing to investigate whether these initial metabolomic variations are related to different psychiatric conditions later in life.”
The research also recognized distinct metabolomic patterns connected to specific aspects of psychotic-like experiences, including delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, negative symptoms, thought disorders, and dissociation. These results prompt a reconsideration of how psychiatry categorizes symptoms, indicating that different symptom domains could correlate with unique metabolic profiles.
Looking ahead, the team plans to conduct similar research with a bigger participant pool and also intends to include follow-up and registry-based analyses to monitor psychiatric diagnoses over time.
“We’re just beginning to explore the potential in this research field,” states Kurkinen. “Future studies concentrating on symptom dimensions and specific biological pathways could significantly enhance precision psychiatry and deepen our comprehension of psychiatric disorders.”
