Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Drug addiction is a chronic disorder characterized by a set of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms that include continued use despite negative consequences as well as high rates of relapse (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Wikler, 1973). Although it has been postulated that the chronic use of psychoactive-substances (PAS) entails changes in brain function and structure which lead to dysfunctional neuroadaptations (whether transitory or permanent), the period of use and quantities necessary to provoke such alterations are unknown (George and Koob, 2010; Seger, 2010; Volkow et al., 2011).

Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence - October 12, 2018 Category: Addiction Authors: Felipe Ornell, Fernanda Hansen, Felipe Barreto Schuch, Fernando Pezzini Rebelatto, Ana Laura Tavares, Juliana Nichterwitz Scherer, Andrei Garziera Valerio, Flavio Pechansky, Felix Henrique Paim Kessler, Lisia von Diemen Source Type: research