Attentional bias to smoking and other motivationally relevant cues is affected by nicotine exposure and dose expectancy
We examined the early posterior negativity (EPN) and late positive potential (LPP) components of the event-related potentials (ERPs) to the distracters, reaction time (RT) to the target digits, and ratings of the study cigarettes. The EPN was sensitive to both given and instructed nicotine dose, while the instructed dose moderated the impact of given dose for the LPP. The RT metrics were sensitive to given but not to instructed dose. The effects of given dose on ratings following cigarette smoking (e.g. enjoyment) were moderated by the instructed dose. The ERP findings suggest that the anticipated effects of nicotine impro...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Robinson, J. D., Versace, F., Engelmann, J. M., Cui, Y., Gilbert, D. G., Waters, A. J., Gritz, E. R., Cinciripini, P. M. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Impulsivity and attentional bias as predictors of modafinil treatment outcome for retention and drug use in crack-cocaine dependent patients: Results of a randomised controlled trial
Conclusions:
Baseline impulsivity and attentional bias predicted clinical outcomes in crack-cocaine dependent patients. There were no firm indications that modafinil reduced impulsivity nor attentional bias in this population. Future studies involving cognitive-enhancing medications should include strategies to optimise adherence, to be better able to evaluate their potential. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Nuijten, M., Blanken, P., Van den Brink, W., Goudriaan, A. E., Hendriks, V. M. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Effects of d-amphetamine upon psychosocial stress responses
In this study, we examined the effect of d-amphetamine on responses to acute psychosocial stress using a public speaking task. Healthy volunteers (N=56) participated in two experimental sessions, one with a psychosocial stressor (the Trier Social Stress Test) and one with a non-stressful control task. They were randomly assigned to receive d-amphetamine (5 mg n=18, 10 mg n=20) or placebo (n=18) on both sessions under double blind conditions. Salivary cortisol, subjective mood, and vital signs were measured at regular intervals during the session. Subjects also provided cognitive appraisals of the tasks before and after the...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Childs, E., Bershad, A. K., de Wit, H. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Hallucinogen use and intimate partner violence: Prospective evidence consistent with protective effects among men with histories of problematic substance use
Evidence suggests that hallucinogens may have therapeutic potential for addressing a variety of problem behaviors related to the externalizing spectrum of psychopathology, such as substance misuse and criminality. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent form of criminal violence that is related to externalizing pathology. However, the association between hallucinogen use and IPV has not been comprehensively examined. In this prospective study, we examined the association between IPV and naturalistic hallucinogen use among 302 inmates at a US county jail. Cox regression analyses indicated that hallucinogen use predic...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Walsh, Z., Hendricks, P. S., Smith, S., Kosson, D. S., Thiessen, M. S., Lucas, P., Swogger, M. T. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Treating posttraumatic stress disorder with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: A preliminary meta-analysis and comparison to prolonged exposure therapy
Since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a major area of research and development. The most widely accepted treatment for PTSD is prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, but for many patients it is intolerable or ineffective. ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) has recently re-emerged as a new treatment option, with two clinical trials having been published and both producing promising results. However, these results have yet to be compared to existing treatments. The present paper seeks to bridge this gap in the literature. Often the sta...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Amoroso, T., Workman, M. Tags: Review Source Type: research
True alignment of preclinical and clinical research to enhance success in CNS drug development: a review of the current evidence
Central nervous system pharmacological research and development has reached a critical turning point. Patients suffering from disorders afflicting the central nervous system are numerous and command significant attention from the pharmaceutical industry. However, given the numerous failures of promising drugs, many companies are no longer investing in or, indeed, are divesting from this therapeutic area. Central nervous system drug development must change in order to develop effective therapies to treat these patients. Preclinical research is a cornerstone of drug development; however, it is frequently criticised for its l...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Goetghebeur, P. J., Swartz, J. E. Tags: Commentary Source Type: research
Null is beautiful: On the importance of publishing null results
(Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - June 15, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Munafo, M., Neill, J. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Erratum
for The link between use of psychedelic drugs and mental health problems by Nesvåg R, Bramness JG, Ystrom E. Journal of Psychopharmacology October 2015 29: 1035-1036, doi: 10.1177/0269881115596156. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Tags: Erratum Source Type: research
A pilot study of the effect of short-term escitalopram treatment on brain metabolites and gamma-oscillations in healthy subjects
(Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Maron, E., Near, J., Wallis, G., Stokes, M., Matthews, P. M., Nutt, D. J. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
Better than treated as usual: Transcranial magnetic stimulation augmentation in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, mini-review and pilot open-label trial
Conclusions:
1 Hz rTMS over the supplementary motor area appeared to be effective in approximately 2/3 of SSRI-refractory OCD subjects, whereas in the TAU group only 1/4 of subjects were responders. The supplementary motor area might be a new target area to be further explored with neuromodulation for OCD treatment. (Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology)
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Pallanti, S., Marras, A., Salerno, L., Makris, N., Hollander, E. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
The effect of desvenlafaxine on cognitive functioning in employed outpatients with major depressive disorder: a substudy of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
The objective of this substudy was to examine the effect of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day compared with placebo on cognitive function in employed outpatients with major depressive disorder. A total of 11/55 (20%) study sites in a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial administered cognitive assessments in memory, attention, and executive functioning domains using the cognitive drug research system. Changes from baseline were subjected to analysis of covariance with baseline levels as covariates, using last observation carried forward data. A significant improvement with desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day (n=52) compa...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Reddy, S., Fayyad, R., Edgar, C. J., Guico-Pabia, C. J., Wesnes, K. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
The comparative short-term outcome of bipolar II disorder patients variably meeting or not meeting DSM-5 duration criteria following lamotrigine treatment
There is accruing clinical and empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of lamotrigine as a treatment for bipolar II disorder. However, the treatment response experienced by those with ‘short duration’ hypomania (or ‘other specified’ bipolar disorder) has been under-researched. We reviewed a clinical sample of 123 patients diagnosed with a bipolar II disorder three months following their initial assessment. A research interview evaluated treatment strategies implemented, depressive and hypomanic episode pattern and functional outcomes. Of patients who had achieved a minimum level of 75 mg of lamot...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: McCraw, S., Parker, G. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Evidence-based guidelines for treating bipolar disorder: Revised third edition recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology
The British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines specify the scope and targets of treatment for bipolar disorder. The third version is based explicitly on the available evidence and presented, like previous Clinical Practice Guidelines, as recommendations to aid clinical decision making for practitioners: it may also serve as a source of information for patients and carers, and assist audit. The recommendations are presented together with a more detailed review of the corresponding evidence. A consensus meeting, involving experts in bipolar disorder and its treatment, reviewed key areas and considered the strength...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - May 9, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Goodwin, G., Haddad, P., Ferrier, I., Aronson, J., Barnes, T., Cipriani, A., Coghill, D., Fazel, S., Geddes, J., Grunze, H., Holmes, E., Howes, O., Hudson, S., Hunt, N., Jones, I., Macmillan, I., McAllister-Williams, H., Miklowitz, D., Morriss, R., Munafo Tags: BAP Guidelines Source Type: research
CB1 antagonism produces behaviors more consistent with satiety than reduced reward value in food-maintained responding in rats
Cannabinoid CB1 antagonists are widely known to reduce motivation for food, but it is not known whether they induce satiety or reduce reward value of food. It may therefore be necessary to compare effects of altered satiety and reward food value in the same appetitive task, and determine whether CB1 antagonism produces a behavior pattern similar to either, both, or neither. A fine-grained analysis of fixed-ratio 10 (FR10) responding for palatable food initially included number and duration of, and between, all lever presses and food tray entries in order to differentiate the pattern of suppression of prefeeding from that c...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - April 18, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Thompson, E. E., Jagielo-Miller, J. E., Vemuri, V. K., Makriyannis, A., McLaughlin, P. J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Involvement of allopregnanolone in the anti-PTSD-like effects of AC-5216
Cholesterol import into mitochondria through the translocator protein (18 KDa) (TSPO) is the starting point and an important rate-limiting step in neurosteroidogenesis. For this reason TSPO has received increased attention in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In an effort to explore the role of TSPO in mediating the anti-PTSD effect, we first assessed the effects of the TSPO ligand AC-5216 in alleviating the enhanced anxiety and fear response in a time-dependent sensitization (TDS) procedure, a rat PTSD animal model. In the present study, we showed that chronic treatment with AC-5216 caused sign...
Source: Journal of Psychopharmacology - April 18, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Zhang, L.-M., Qiu, Z.-K., Chen, X.-F., Zhao, N., Chen, H.-X., Xue, R.-, Zhang, Y.-Z., Yang, R.-F., Li, Y.-F. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
