Page 25 - JCBP-2-1

Journal of Clinical and

Basic Psychosomatics

REVIEW ARTICLE
The endocannabinoid system: A new frontier in

addressing psychosomatic challenges

1
1,2
Laura E. Torres-Mondragón , Luisa C. León-Pimentel ,
1
1
Daniel E. Pérez-Tamayo , and Alberto K. De la Herrán Arita *
1 Department of Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán,
México
2 Department of Molecular Biomedicine, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacán, México

Abstract

Psychosomatic disorders (PSD), alternatively referred to as psychophysiologic
disorders, are characterized by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation,
posing a substantial challenge in clinical practice. These disorders constitute a
collection of intricate medical conditions marked by the considerable impact of
psychological and emotional factors on the onset, intensification, or persistence of
physical symptoms. The endocannabinoid system, a complex regulatory network
consisting of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and associated enzymes,
emerges as a key player in modulating the body’s stress response, emotional
regulation, and immune function. This review delves into the bidirectional
relationship between the endocannabinoid system and the HPA axis, elucidating the
impact of endocannabinoid system modulation on stress responsiveness, immune
*Corresponding author: modulation, and the intricate interplay between emotional well-being and physical
Alberto K. De la Herrán-Arita symptoms. Through the synthesis of current scientific knowledge, this review aims to
(alberto.kousuke@uas.edu.mx) provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of the endocannabinoid system
Citation: Torres-Mondragón LE, in PSD, offering insights that may pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches.
León-Pimentel LC, Pérez-
Tamayo DE., et al., 2024, The
endocannabinoid system: Keywords: Endocannabinoids; Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; Immune system;
A new frontier in addressing Psychosomatic medicine; Psychophysiologic disorders
psychosomatic challenges. J Clin
Basic Psychosom, 2(1): 2288.
https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.2288
Received: November 22, 2023 1. Introduction
Accepted: December 28, 2023
The intricate interplay between the mind and body has long captivated the realms of
Published Online: January 12, 2024 medical inquiry, giving rise to the enigmatic domain of psychosomatic disorders
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). (PSDs). Also referred to as psychophysiologic or somatoform disorders, PSD constitutes
This is an Open-Access article a heterogeneous group of medical conditions wherein psychological and emotional
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution factors wield a profound influence over the initiation, exacerbation, or perpetuation of
License, permitting distribution, physical symptoms [1,2] .
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is At the core of PSD lies the convergence of emotional and psychological well-being with
properly cited. physiological states, resulting in a tapestry of symptoms that span pain, gastrointestinal
Publisher’s Note: AccScience distress, neurological manifestations, and an array of somatic complaints. The challenge
Publishing remains neutral with in comprehending these disorders stems from their inherent complexity, a complexity
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional that defies conventional diagnostic paradigms. In the conventional model, diseases are
affiliations. deciphered through the lens of objective signs and subjective symptoms. However, PSD

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcbp.2288