Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2025
07:51
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
10.5K
Atomoxetine Reduces Decisional Impulsivity in Human Cocaine Addiction
Tsen Vei Lim1, Rudolf N Cardinal2, Hisham Ziauddeen3
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Biological Psychiatry
|October 31, 2024
Summary
Atomoxetine effectively reduced impulsivity in cocaine use disorder (CUD) patients by lowering risk-seeking and improving delay tolerance. This study highlights atomoxetine
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Impulsivity is a key factor in cocaine use disorder (CUD) but lacks effective management strategies.
- Atomoxetine, a noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, shows promise in improving impulse control across various conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of atomoxetine on decisional impulsivity in individuals with CUD.
- To explore the effects of atomoxetine on decision-making components in CUD patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 28 CUD patients and 28 healthy controls.
- Participants completed the Cambridge Gambling Task after receiving either placebo or 40 mg atomoxetine.
- Computational modeling analyzed decision-making into value, probability, and impulsivity components.
Main Results:
- CUD patients exhibited impairments across all decision-making components.
- Atomoxetine selectively reduced decisional impulsivity in CUD patients, decreasing risk-seeking and increasing delay tolerance.
- Atomoxetine did not alter impulsivity in controls but heightened their sensitivity to potential losses.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest noradrenergic dysfunction in CUD patients.
- Atomoxetine demonstrates efficacy in ameliorating decisional impulsivity in CUD, offering a potential therapeutic avenue.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
45
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
45
01:24CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
163
CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...
163
01:21Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
959
Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
959
01:25Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents
1.5K
Indirect-acting adrenergic agonists potentiate the effects of endogenous catecholamines through different mechanisms without directly binding to adrenoceptors.
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral...
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral...
1.5K
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
445
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
445
01:29Stimulants
160
Stimulants are substances that enhance neural activity and elevate dopamine levels in the brain, leading to their highly addictive nature. These drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, caffeine, and nicotine, each with distinct mechanisms of action and varied health implications.
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
160