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A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
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Decreased dopamine activity predicts relapse in methamphetamine abusers.

G J Wang1, L Smith, N D Volkow

  • 1Medical Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA. gjwang@bnl.gov

Molecular Psychiatry
|July 13, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Methamphetamine (METH) abusers with lower striatal dopamine D2 receptor availability showed higher relapse rates. Measuring dopamine function may predict treatment outcomes in METH addiction recovery.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Addiction Research
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is linked to dopamine (DA) system dysfunction.
  • Protracted detoxification may allow for recovery of DA function in METH abusers.
  • Predicting recovery outcomes based on striatal DA function requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the association between striatal DA activity in METH abusers and clinical outcomes.
  • To determine if D2 receptor availability predicts relapse during abstinence.
  • To evaluate DA release capacity using methylphenidate challenge.

Main Methods:

  • Positron emission tomography (PET) with [(11)C]raclopride measured D2 receptor availability in 16 METH abusers and 15 controls.
  • Methylphenidate (MPH) challenge assessed DA release.
  • Participants were followed for 9 months of abstinence.

Main Results:

  • METH abusers exhibited lower D2 receptor availability in the caudate nucleus compared to controls.
  • Reduced striatal DA release after MPH challenge was observed in METH abusers.
  • METH abusers who relapsed had lower D2 receptor availability and no DA release response to MPH.
  • Abstinent METH abusers who completed detoxification showed no significant differences from controls.

Conclusions:

  • Low striatal dopamine function in METH abusers is associated with an increased likelihood of relapse.
  • Assessing DA dysfunction may aid in predicting therapeutic outcomes for METH addiction.
  • D2 receptor availability and DA release capacity are potential biomarkers for METH addiction recovery.