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Substance use modulates stress reactivity: Behavioral and physiological outcomes
Anne Q Fosnocht1, Lisa A Briand1
1Department of Psychology, Temple University, United States.
Physiology & Behavior
|February 25, 2016
Summary
Chronic drug use alters the brain's stress response, impacting relapse vulnerability. Understanding these changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is key for developing new addiction treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Addiction Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Drug addiction poses a significant public health challenge with substantial economic costs.
- Limited effective treatment options highlight the need for a deeper understanding of the addicted brain.
- Chronic substance use is known to alter the body and brain's stress response systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how substance use impacts stress reactivity.
- To explore the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in addiction.
- To provide a mechanism linking altered stress responses to addictive phenotypes.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical and preclinical studies on drug addiction and stress.
- Analysis of research on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
- Examination of the role of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Main Results:
- Chronic drug use leads to dysregulation of the HPA axis.
- Alterations in central and peripheral CRF activity are observed following chronic substance use.
- These neurobiological changes provide a mechanism for how substance use modifies stress reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Substance use significantly alters stress responses, contributing to addictive phenotypes.
- Understanding the impact of drug use on the HPA axis and CRF is crucial for developing novel therapeutics.
- This review shifts focus to how substance use affects stress responses, rather than vice versa.
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