The reinforcing effects of ethanol within the nucleus accumbens shell involve activation of local GABA and serotonin receptors
Ethanol is reinforcing within the nucleus accumbens shell (NACsh), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Ethanol can potentiate the function of the GABAA, GABAB, and serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptors. Therefore, the current study tested the hypothesis that activation of these receptors would be involved in the reinforcing effects of ethanol in the NACsh. An intracranial self-administration (ICSA) procedure was used to assess the reinforcing effects of ethanol in the NACsh of alcohol preferring (P) rats. The ICSA consisted of seven sessions: four sessions to establish 150 mg% ethanol self-infusion into the NACsh; sessio...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Ding, Z.-M., Ingraham, C. M., Rodd, Z. A., McBride, W. J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats induces emotional and memory deficits associated with morphological and molecular alterations in hippocampus
There is increasing evidence that heavy ethanol exposure in early life may produce long-lasting neurobehavioral consequences, since brain structural maturation continues until adolescence. It is well established that females are more susceptible to alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and that ethanol consumption is increasing among women, especially during adolescence. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic ethanol exposure during adolescence through early adulthood in female rats may induce hippocampal histological damage and neurobehavioral impairments. Female rats were treated with distilled water or ethanol (6...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Oliveira, A. C., Pereira, M. C., Santana, L. N. d. S., Fernandes, R. M., Teixeira, F. B., Oliveira, G. B., Fernandes, L. M., Fontes-Junior, E. A., Prediger, R. D., Crespo-Lopez, M. E., Gomes-Leal, W., Lima, R. R., Maia, C. d. S. F. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Noribogaine reduces nicotine self-administration in rats
Noribogaine, a polypharmacological drug with activities at opioid receptors, ionotropic nicotinic receptors, and serotonin reuptake transporters, has been investigated for treatment of substance abuse-related disorders. Smoking cessation has major benefits for both individuals and society, therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of noribogaine for use as a treatment for nicotine dependence. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer nicotine intravenous. After initial food pellet training, followed by 26 sessions of nicotine self-administration training, the rats were administered ...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Chang, Q., Hanania, T., Mash, D. C., Maillet, E. L. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Risk of emergency medical treatment following consumption of cannabis or synthetic cannabinoids in a large global sample
Conclusions:
Whilst these findings must be treated with caution, SCs potentially pose a greater risk to users’ health than natural forms of cannabis. Regulation is unlikely to remove SCs from the market, so well-informed user-focused health promotion messages need to be crafted to discourage their use. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Winstock, A., Lynskey, M., Borschmann, R., Waldron, J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Sleep is more sensitive to high doses of caffeine in the middle years of life
This study evaluated the effects of 200 mg and 400 mg of caffeine on sleep in young and middle-aged adults. The sleep of 22 young (23.5 ± 1.9 years) and 24 middle-aged (51.7 ± 11.5 years) adults was recorded using polysomnography in two conditions (placebo and caffeine) in a double-blind cross-over design. Compared to placebo, caffeine increased sleep latency, shortened total sleep duration and reduced sleep efficiency. At the higher dose, these effects were more pronounced in middle-aged than in young adults. Furthermore, the higher dose of caffeine increased absolute stage 1 sleep in young adults, whereas i...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Robillard, R., Bouchard, M., Cartier, A., Nicolau, L., Carrier, J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Modafinil in the treatment of crack-cocaine dependence in the Netherlands: Results of an open-label randomised controlled feasibility trial
Conclusions
Acceptance and benefits of modafinil were not demonstrated in the present study. Since reduction in cocaine use was observed in high modafinil adherent patients, further research in the treatment of cocaine dependence, in which modafinil adherence is optimised, is warranted. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nuijten, M., Blanken, P., van den Brink, W., Hendriks, V. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Intimate insight: MDMA changes how people talk about significant others
Conclusions:
These findings are consistent with reports that MDMA acutely alters speech content, specifically increasing emotional and social content during a brief semistructured dyadic interaction. Studying effects of psychoactive drugs on speech content may offer new insights into drug effects on mental states, and on emotional and psychosocial interaction. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Baggott, M. J., Kirkpatrick, M. G., Bedi, G., de Wit, H. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Prosocial effects of MDMA: A measure of generosity
Conclusions:
These data indicate that the WTT is a valuable, novel tool to assess a component of prosocial behavior, i.e. generosity to others. The findings support growing evidence that MDMA produces prosocial effects, but, as with oxytocin, these appear to depend on the social proximity of the relationships. The brain mechanisms underlying the construct of generosity, or the effects of MDMA on this measure, remain to be determined. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Kirkpatrick, M., Delton, A. W., Robertson, T. E., de Wit, H. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
European rating of drug harms
Conclusion:
The outcome of this study shows that the previous national rankings based on the relative harms of different drugs are endorsed throughout the EU. The results indicates that EU and national drug policy measures should focus on drugs with the highest overall harm, including alcohol and tobacco, whereas drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy should be given lower priority including a lower legal classification. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: van Amsterdam, J., Nutt, D., Phillips, L., van den Brink, W. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population
Curcumin possesses many properties which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, dementia or mood disorders. These benefits in preclinical studies have not been established in humans. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the acute (1 and 3 h after a single dose), chronic (4 weeks) and acute-on-chronic (1 and 3 h after single dose following chronic treatment) effects of solid lipid curcumin formulation (400 mg as Longvida®) on cognitive function, mood and blood biomarkers in 60 healthy adults aged 60–85. One hour after administration cu...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Cox, K. H., Pipingas, A., Scholey, A. B. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Early effects of duloxetine on emotion recognition in healthy volunteers
The serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) duloxetine is an effective treatment for major depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Neuropsychological models of antidepressant drug action suggest therapeutic effects might be mediated by the early correction of maladaptive biases in emotion processing, including the recognition of emotional expressions. Sub-chronic administration of duloxetine (for two weeks) produces adaptive changes in neural circuitry implicated in emotion processing; however, its effects on emotional expression recognition are unknown. Forty healthy participants were randomised to receive ...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Bamford, S., Penton-Voak, I., Pinkney, V., Baldwin, D. S., Munafo, M. R., Garner, M. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Role of the serotonin transporter gene locus in the response to SSRI treatment of major depressive disorder in late life
It has been suggested that the serotonin or 5-hydroxytriptamine (5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) and its gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) response modulators in late-life depression (LLD), and particularly in late-life major depressive disorder (MDD). Previous studies differed in design and results. Our study aimed to investigate the solute carrier family 6 (neurotransmitter transporter and serotonin) member 4 (SLC6A4) gene locus, encoding 5-HTT and SSRI treatment response in late-life MDD. For a prospective cohort study, we enrolled 234 patients with late-life MDD to be...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Seripa, D., Pilotto, A., Paroni, G., Fontana, A., D'Onofrio, G., Gravina, C., Urbano, M., Cascavilla, L., Paris, F., Panza, F., Padovani, A., Pilotto, A. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Association of ARRB1 polymorphisms with the risk of major depressive disorder and with treatment response to mirtazapine
β-Arrestin 1 is known to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) and in the underlying mechanism of action of antidepressant therapies. After we screened 39 ARRB1 polymorphisms, we investigated the associations of seven ARRB1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of MDD in 270 patients with MDD and 204 normal subjects, and with mirtazapine treatment response in patients with MDD. The genotype distributions of –132C>T and IVS1+85T>C showed significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in patients with MDD but not in normal subjects. After four and ...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Chang, H. S., Won, E. S., Lee, H.-Y., Ham, B.-J., Kim, Y.-G., Lee, M.-S. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Effects of 10 to 30 years of lithium treatment on kidney function
Long-term lithium treatment is associated with end-stage renal disease, but there is little evidence of a clinically significant reduction in renal function in most patients. We previously found that 1.5% of people who took lithium from the 1960s and 1970s developed end-stage renal disease; however, none of the patients who started after 1980 had end-stage renal disease. Here we aimed to study the prevalence and extent of kidney damage during the course of long-term lithium treatment since 1980. We retrieved serum lithium and creatinine levels from 4879 patients examined between 1 January 1981 and 31 December 2010. Only pa...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Aiff, H., Attman, P.-O., Aurell, M., Bendz, H., Ramsauer, B., Schon, S., Svedlund, J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Neural correlates of change in major depressive disorder anhedonia following open-label ketamine
Anhedonia is a cardinal symptom of major depression and is often refractory to standard treatment, yet no approved medication for this specific symptom exists. In this exploratory re-analysis, we assessed whether administration of rapid-acting antidepressant ketamine was associated specifically with reduced anhedonia in medication-free treatment-refractory patients with major depressive disorder in an open-label investigation. Additionally, participants received either oral riluzole or placebo daily beginning 4 hours post-infusion. A subgroup of patients underwent fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans at ba...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 21, 2015 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Lally, N., Nugent, A. C., Luckenbaugh, D. A., Niciu, M. J., Roiser, J. P., Zarate, C. A. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
