Review: The Endocannabinoid System as a Treatment Target for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders
A narrative review found the endocannabinoid system shows promise as a treatment target for psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents, but compounds that target it without cannabis's unwanted effects need further development.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The endocannabinoid system plays key roles in stress, emotion, and social behavior regulation throughout development. Dysregulation is evident in various pediatric psychiatric disorders. While cannabis itself has too many limitations for pediatric use (legal, stigma, side effects), pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting the ECS may offer viable alternatives.
Key Numbers
Reviewed ECS development from prenatal to adolescent periods. Examined dysregulation across multiple psychiatric disorders. Summarized current pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting ECS.
How They Did This
Narrative review summarizing ECS function during development, its contribution to psychopathology in children and adolescents, behavioral evidence, and current pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic investigations.
Why This Research Matters
Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents are increasing, and many current treatments have limited efficacy. The endocannabinoid system represents a novel therapeutic target that could lead to new treatment approaches, but safety in developing brains must be carefully established.
The Bigger Picture
This review bridges two active research fields — developmental psychopathology and endocannabinoid science — highlighting opportunities for novel treatments while acknowledging that the developing brain's vulnerability to cannabinoids demands extreme caution.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review without systematic search criteria. Most evidence is from preclinical studies. Limited clinical trial data for ECS-targeting compounds in pediatric populations. Developmental trajectory of the ECS is not fully characterized.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which ECS-targeting compounds are safe for developing brains?
- ?Could non-pharmacological ECS interventions (exercise, diet) be effective for pediatric psychiatric disorders?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Narrative review synthesizing heterogeneous evidence. Concept is promising but clinical evidence for pediatric ECS-targeting therapies is minimal.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication.
- Original Title:
- Research Review: What we have learned about the endocannabinoid system in developmental psychopathology.
- Published In:
- Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 66(12), 1904-1915 (2025)
- Authors:
- Tansey, Ryann C, Ferger, Marc D, Marusak, Hilary A(6), Mayo, Leah M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07774
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research without a strict systematic method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Could the endocannabinoid system be targeted to treat childhood mental health disorders?
This review suggests yes — the endocannabinoid system is involved in stress, emotion, and social behavior regulation in children. However, cannabis itself is too risky for developing brains, so researchers are exploring targeted compounds and non-drug approaches.
Is medical cannabis safe for children with mental health conditions?
This review notes that cannabis has too many limitations for pediatric psychiatric use, including side effects on the developing brain, legal barriers, and stigma. Instead, researchers are investigating compounds that target specific parts of the endocannabinoid system without cannabis's broader effects.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07774APA
Tansey, Ryann C; Ferger, Marc D; Marusak, Hilary A; Mayo, Leah M. (2025). Research Review: What we have learned about the endocannabinoid system in developmental psychopathology.. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 66(12), 1904-1915. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70006
MLA
Tansey, Ryann C, et al. "Research Review: What we have learned about the endocannabinoid system in developmental psychopathology.." Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70006
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Research Review: What we have learned about the endocannabin..." RTHC-07774. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/tansey-2025-research-review-what-we
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.