The Expanded Endocannabinoid System Contributes to Metabolic and Body Mass Shifts in First-Episode Schizophrenia: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study
Observational studyHumans
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 54 antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode psychosis and 58 controls
- Dose used in the study
- Not stated in the abstract; no treatment was given
- Duration
- Measured at onset, 0.6 years and 5.1 years after starting antipsychotic treatment
- What was measured
- Serum 2-AG, anandamide, N-acylethanolamines (linoleoylethanolamide, OEA, palmitoylethanolamide) and phosphatidylcholines by targeted metabolomics
What the authors reported
First-episode psychosis was marked by higher N-acylethanolamine concentrations, including palmitoylethanolamide, and lower 2-AG. After 5 years of illness and antipsychotic treatment, 2-AG rose markedly, which the authors link to obesity.
Limits of this study
An observational study that measured natural palmitoylethanolamide; it did not test PEA as a treatment and cannot show cause. No conflict of interest declared by the authors.
Source
PubMed 35203453 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines10020243
Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.