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Reducing Addiction in Bipolar Disorder via Hacking the Dopaminergic System
Heinz Grunze1,2, Réka Csehi3, Christoph Born1,2
1Psychiatrie Schwäbisch Hall, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
|December 31, 2021
Summary
Dopamine D2/D3 receptor partial agonists/antagonists show promise for treating substance use disorder (SUD) and bipolar disorder (BD), especially when comorbid. Further research is needed to clarify their therapeutic role in SUD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- The dopaminergic system is integral to substance use disorder (SUD), bipolar disorder (BD), and refractory depression.
- High comorbidity rates and shared genetic markers suggest a strong link between these conditions.
- Dopamine D2 and D3 receptors are implicated in the pathophysiology of SUD and BD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the therapeutic potential of dopamine D2/D3 receptor partial agonists/antagonists.
- To explore their efficacy in treating substance use disorder (SUD) and bipolar disorder (BD).
- To assess their promise for patients with comorbid BD and SUD.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing literature.
- Analysis of studies on dopamine receptor pharmacology.
- Examination of clinical evidence for D2/D3 receptor modulators.
Main Results:
- Dopamine D2/D3 receptor partial agonists/antagonists are established in treating BD.
- Their role in SUD treatment is less defined but emerging.
- Dopamine D3 receptors are crucial in both SUD and BD.
Conclusions:
- Dopamine D2/D3 receptor partial agonists/antagonists represent a potential therapeutic avenue for comorbid BD and SUD.
- Targeting D2/D3 receptors may offer a unified treatment strategy.
- Further clinical investigation is warranted to confirm efficacy in SUD.
Keywords:
antipsychoticbipolar disordercariprazinepartial agonistpsychopharmacotherapysubstance use disorder (SUD)More Related Videos
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