OBJECTIVE Since cocaine and psychostimulant dependence are related to increased dopamine release, antipsychotics have been tried to reduce their reinforcing properties. A meta-analysis was undertaken to assess the efficacy and tolerability of antipsychotics in cocaine- or stimulant-dependent patients. DATA SOURCES We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library databases, and PsycINFO from database ince...

BACKGROUND Substance use and affective disorders frequently co-occur, but the role of affective dysregulation in addiction is often overlooked. There is evidence shows that substance - dependent individuals have more problems in regulating their emotions. OBJECTIVES This study compared two commonly used emotional regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal and suppression, in opioids and met...

Several lines of evidence have suggested that the glutamatergic system in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in the conditioned rewarding effect of drugs of abuse. In addition, it is recognized that extracellular glutamate is rapidly removed from the synaptic cleft by Na+-dependent glutamate transporters in neurons and glial cells, thereby maintaining physiological levels of gl...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To describe and review the literature published on methamphetamine in 2003-2004, with a particular focus on patterns of use, its effects on the user and society, and progress being made towards effective treatment strategies. RECENT FINDINGS The methamphetamine epidemic continues to grow, dominating drug use trends in many parts of the world, and signifying an increasing nee...

BACKGROUND Data suggests that brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) plays a neuroadaptive role in addiction. Whether serum BDNF levels are different in alcohol or psychostimulants as a function of craving is unknown. Here, we examined craving and serum BDNF levels in persons with alcohol versus psychostimulant dependence. Our goals were to explore BDNF as an objective biomarker for 1) craving...

OBJECTIVE This study estimated prevalences and correlates of stimulant diversion in the United States and examined relationships between diversion and measures of abuse or dependence. METHODS We conducted descriptive and multivariate analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Key measures were nonmedical use (misuse) of any prescription stimulant, any stimulant other th...

Background: The abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances such as amphetamines and ecstasy has had a growing trend. Tachycardia, increased blood pressure, hallucinations, panic attacks, and psychosis are the negative effects of methamphetamine abuse. The present study aimed to assess psychiatric disorders associated with methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder. Methods: This cross-...