scholarly journals Role of the Serotonergic System in Alcohol Dependence

2011 ◽  
pp. 401-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Sari ◽  
Verity R. Johnson ◽  
Jason M. Weedman
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Serotonergic System

Alcohol Dependence Conceptualized as a Stress Disorder

2019 ◽  
pp. 198-220
Author(s):  
Leandro F. Vendruscolo ◽  
George F. Koob
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptors ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Brain Circuits ◽  
Negative Emotional State ◽  
Alcohol Alcohol

Alcohol use disorder is a chronically relapsing disorder that involves (1) compulsivity to seek and take alcohol, (2) difficulty in limiting alcohol intake, and (3) emergence of a negative emotional state (e.g., dysphoria, anxiety, irritability) in the absence of alcohol. Alcohol addiction encompasses a three-stage cycle that becomes more intense as alcohol use progresses: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation. These stages engage neuroadaptations in brain circuits that involve the basal ganglia (reward hypofunction), extended amygdala (stress sensitization), and prefrontal cortex (executive function disorder). This chapter discusses key neuroadaptations in the hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic stress systems and the critical role of glucocorticoid receptors. These neuroadaptations contribute to negative emotional states that powerfully drive compulsive alcohol drinking and seeking. These changes in association with a disruption of prefrontal cortex function that lead to cognitive deficits and poor decision making contribute to the chronic relapsing nature of alcohol dependence.

scholarly journals Association of the OPRM1 A118G polymorphism and Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer: Clinical relevance for alcohol dependence

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112199199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Sebold ◽  
Maria Garbusow ◽  
Deniz Cerci ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
Christian Sommer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Opioid Receptor ◽  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Opioid System ◽  
Operant Behaviour ◽  
Oprm1 Gene ◽  
Potential Biomarker ◽  
A118g Polymorphism

Background: Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) quantifies the extent to which a stimulus that has been associated with reward or punishment alters operant behaviour. In alcohol dependence (AD), the PIT effect serves as a paradigmatic model of cue-induced relapse. Preclinical studies have suggested a critical role of the opioid system in modulating Pavlovian–instrumental interactions. The A118G polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene affects opioid receptor availability and function. Furthermore, this polymorphism interacts with cue-induced approach behaviour and is a potential biomarker for pharmacological treatment response in AD. In this study, we tested whether the OPRM1 polymorphism is associated with the PIT effect and relapse in AD. Methods: Using a PIT task, we examined three independent samples: young healthy subjects ( N = 161), detoxified alcohol-dependent patients ( N = 186) and age-matched healthy controls ( N = 105). We used data from a larger study designed to assess the role of learning mechanisms in the development and maintenance of AD. Subjects were genotyped for the A118G (rs1799971) polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene. Relapse was assessed after three months. Results: In all three samples, participants with the minor OPRM1 G-Allele (G+ carriers) showed increased expression of the PIT effect in the absence of learning differences. Relapse was not associated with the OPRM1 polymorphism. Instead, G+ carriers displaying increased PIT effects were particularly prone to relapse. Conclusion: These results support a role for the opioid system in incentive salience motivation. Furthermore, they inform a mechanistic model of aberrant salience processing and are in line with the pharmacological potential of opioid receptor targets in the treatment of AD.

The role of tryptophan in hepatic encephalopathy

1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 71-75
Author(s):  
C. Aaldijk ◽  
W.W. Van Den Broek ◽  
R.C. Van Der Mast
Keyword(s):  
Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Clinical Picture ◽  
Serotonergic System ◽  
Pathogenetic Mechanisms ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Glutamine Synthesis ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Tryptophan Uptake

SummaryIn this review the most important hypotheses for the occurrence of the clinical picture of hepatic encephalopathy are discussed. As possible pathogenetic mechanisms are raised: dysfunction of the serotonergic system due to an increased tryptophan uptake in the brain, an elevated intracerebral ammoniac concentration and glutamine synthesis, and a heightened intracerebral GABA-activity.The dysregulation of the serotonergic system as a consequence of the increased intracerebral tryptophan uptake is described as one of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms. The elevated intracerebral ammoniac concentration and the elevated intracerebral glutamine synthesis play in this a facilitating role. The similarity in symptomatology of the clinical picture of HE and the serotonergic syndrome support this hypothesis. Due to contradictory research findings the role of the GABA-ergic system and the occurrence of HE remains unclear.

Suicidal behavior among adolescents with conduct disorder—the role of alcohol dependence

2007 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Essi Ilomäki ◽  
Pirkko Räsänen ◽  
Kaisa Viilo ◽  
Helinä Hakko
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Suicidal Behavior

scholarly journals Suicidal ideation in military veterans with alcohol dependence and PTSD: The role of hostility

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorig K. Kachadourian ◽  
Erin Gandelman ◽  
Elizabeth Ralevski ◽  
Ismene L. Petrakis
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Military Veterans

scholarly journals Affective spectrum disorders and role of serotonergic system of the brain

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-173
Author(s):  
Ivana Timotijevic ◽  
Mirjana Todorovic ◽  
Katarina Crnic ◽  
Srdjan Markovic ◽  
Dragana Kastratovic
Keyword(s):  
Serotonergic System ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
The Brain

How social norms affect alcohol dependence: the mediating role of perceived benefits and alcohol identity

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (12) ◽  
pp. 3935-3946
Author(s):  
Shih-Tse Edward Wang ◽  
Yu-Ting Liao
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Social ◽  
Study Results

PurposeAlthough the association between social norms and alcohol dependence has been noted, how social norms cause alcohol dependence remains unclear. This study thus investigated how social norms affect the perceived benefits of drinking and alcohol identity, which in turn affect alcohol dependence.Design/methodology/approachConvenience sampling was used, and 452 valid questionnaires were collected from alcohol (specifically, beer) consumers over the age of 18; answers were analyzed through structural equation modeling.FindingsSocial norms positively affected the perceived benefits of drinking and alcohol identity; alcohol identity positively affected alcohol dependence; moreover, alcohol identity fully mediated the effects of social norms and the perceived benefits of drinking on alcohol dependence.Originality/valueHow social norms affect alcohol dependence has rarely been studied; thus, the present study has value for integrating the findings in the lines of research on social norms and alcohol dependence. Based on the study results, the authors recommend that policies aimed at discouraging alcohol dependence should focus on mitigating the social pressure to drink and the perceived benefits of drinking as well as labeling others as drinkers.

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