Endocannabinoidsystem und Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung im Erwachsenenalter: Aktuelle Studienlage und potenzielle therapeutische Ansatzpunkte

ADHD is a developmental psychiatric disorder that often goes unnoticed and untreated in adulthood. The consequences for affected individuals include frequent school drop-outs, job losses, more frequent accidents, and difficulties in social interaction. ADHD presents in adult life in about 80 % of cases comorbid with other psychiatric disorders, like major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, antisocial disorder and substance abuse. Especially cannabis use, and misuse has a high incidence in patients with ADHD. They use cannabis as a light sedative in the sense of a self-medication for ADHD symptoms such as inner restlessness, motor restlessness and sleep disorders. Since the early 1990 s frequent studies investigated a potential role of the endocannabinoid system in the genesis of psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and sleep disorders. In targeting the endocannabinoid system with synthetical cannabinoids new opportunities for treatment of these mental disorders are discussed. In this article mechanisms of the endocannabinoid system are explained and the connections with ADHD are mentioned. In addition, an outlook on possible treatment options with cannabinoids is given.