Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39547971›Full record

ArticlePsychopharmacology2026

Endocannabinoid dysregulation and PTSD in urban adolescents: Associations with anandamide concentrations and FAAH genotype.

Hilary A Marusak, Samantha L Ely, Clara G Zundel, Leah C Gowatch, MacKenna Shampine, Carmen Carpenter, Reem Tamimi, Alaina M Jaster, Tehmina Shakir, Len May and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Psychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Circulating endocannabinoids in children and adolescents: associations with anxiety and the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025
    Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Research Review: What we have learned about the endocannabinoid system in developmental psychopathology.Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 2025
    Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Understanding the Role of Endocannabinoids in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hilary A MarusakDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA. hmarusak@med.wayne.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0771-6795
Samantha L ElyDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Clara G ZundelDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Leah C GowatchDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
MacKenna ShampineDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Carmen CarpenterDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Reem TamimiDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Alaina M JasterDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Tehmina ShakirDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr., Suite 2B, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
Len MayEndocanna Health, Burbank, CA, USA.
Terri A deRoon-CassiniDepartment of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Cecilia J HillardDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Funding

Exercise facilitation of adolescent fear extinction, frontolimbic circuitry, and endocannabinoidsR01MH132830 · NIMH · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Hilary Marusak · 2023 to 2026
$2.9M
Training Modules at Wayne State University to Promote Safe and Inclusive EnvironmentsT32GM139807 · NIGMS · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI BRYANT-FRIEDRICH, AMANDA C, CHOW, CHRISTINE S · 2021 to 2025
$2.6M
Endocannabinoids and the development of extinction recall neural circuitry in adolescentsK01MH119241 · NIMH · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI MARUSAK, HILARY · 2019 to 2023
$842k
Linear Ion Trap - Quadrupole LC-MS SystemS10OD032292 · OD · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI MADDIPATI, KRISHNARAO · 2022 to 2022
$592k
Triple Quadrupole - Ion Trap Hybrid LC/MS/MS SystemS10RR027926 · NCRR · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI MADDIPATI, KRISHNARAO · 2010 to 2010
$425k
Effects of peer victimization on physiological markers of threat sensitivity in adolescentsR21HD105882 · NICHD · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI MARUSAK, HILARY, SCHACTER, HANNAH L · 2022 to 2023
$424k
Impact of ambient PM2.5 concentrations on fear extinction recall, frontolimbic circuitry, and anxiety in adolescentsF32MH133274 · NIMH · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI ZUNDEL, CLARA · 2023 to 2025
$221k
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development R21HD105882NCRR NIH HHS S10OD032292NCRR NIH HHS S10RR027926NIGMS NIH HHS T32GM139807NIMH NIH HHS F32 MH133274NIMH NIH HHS K01MH119241NIMH NIH HHS R01MH132830
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe endocannabinoid system, which regulates fear- and anxiety-related behaviors, is dysregulated in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as indicated by higher circulating anandamide (AEA) concentrations. The C385A (rs324420) polymorphism in the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene, which catabolizes AEA, is linked to higher AEA concentrations and greater PTSD symptoms in adults. Given that adolescence is a critical period during which trauma and psychiatric disorders emerge, understanding this relationship in youth is essential. This study examines PTSD symptoms, AEA concentrations, and FAAH genotype in a diverse adolescent sample.

methodsThis study included 102 Detroit-area adolescents (M ± SD = 13.33 ± 2.21 years, 54.9% female) and their parents/guardians. The sample consisted of 40.2% White Non-Hispanic, 34.3% Black Non-Hispanic, 6.9% White Hispanic, 4.9% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 12.7% Biracial adolescents. Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms were assessed using the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-5. Plasma concentrations of AEA were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and FAAH genotype was determined from saliva samples and high-throughput screening.

resultsThe majority (90%) of adolescents reported trauma exposure, and 20% met PTSD criteria. Higher AEA concentrations were associated with more severe PTSD symptoms (p = 0.009), especially hyperarousal. The FAAH A-allele (present in 52.5% of participants) was associated with higher AEA concentrations (2.11 ± 0.69 pmol/ml, p = 0.013) and greater PTSD severity (22.65 ± 15.931, p = 0.027), particularly those with the reexperiencing cluster, compared to the CC genotype (1.79 ± 0.66 pmol/ml and 15.87 ±+ 13.043, respectively).

conclusionElevated AEA concentrations and the FAAH A-allele were associated with greater PTSD symptom severity in urban adolescents. These findings suggest endocannabinoid dysregulation may play a role in adolescent PTSD, highlighting the need for further research and targeted interventions.

Indexed as

AmidohydrolasesArachidonic AcidsEndocannabinoidsPolyunsaturated AlkamidesStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdolescentFemaleGenotypeHumansMaleMichiganUrban PopulationAmidohydrolasesanandamideArachidonic AcidsEndocannabinoidsPolyunsaturated AlkamidesAdolescentAnandamideEarly adversityEndocannabinoidPTSDTrauma

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.