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The intersection of empathy and addiction
Stewart S Cox1, Carmela M Reichel1
1Medical University of South Carolina, Dept. of Neurosciences, United States of America.
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior
|December 24, 2022
Summary
Empathy changes are linked to substance use disorder (SUD). Neurobiological research highlights brain regions like the insula, paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in this interaction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Empathy, the capacity to understand others' emotions, is crucial for prosocial behavior.
- Altered empathy is increasingly implicated in psychiatric conditions, notably substance use disorder (SUD).
- Clinical and preclinical SUD research reveals a strong connection between drug use/relapse and empathic behavior changes.
Conclusions:
- Empathy plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of SUD.
- Understanding the neurobiology of empathy offers potential therapeutic targets for SUD.
- Considering empathic processes is vital for comprehensive SUD treatment strategies.
Keywords:
AddictionEmpathyInsulaParaventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN)Paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT)Perception action model (PAM)Self-administration (SA)Targeted helpingMore Related Videos
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