Dopamine and alcoholism: neurobiological basis of ethanol abuse
E Tupala, J Tiihonen - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and …, 2004 - Elsevier
E Tupala, J Tiihonen
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2004•ElsevierThe role of the dopamine (DA) system in brain reward mechanisms and the development of
substance abuse has been well established. We review earlier animal and human studies
on DA and alcoholism with some relevant issues relating to those studies. The present
animal and human data suggest several alterations in the DA system in the context of
alcoholism. Receptor studies imply that DA D2 receptor density and function are lower at
least among type 1 alcoholics, which suggests that they could benefit from drugs that …
substance abuse has been well established. We review earlier animal and human studies
on DA and alcoholism with some relevant issues relating to those studies. The present
animal and human data suggest several alterations in the DA system in the context of
alcoholism. Receptor studies imply that DA D2 receptor density and function are lower at
least among type 1 alcoholics, which suggests that they could benefit from drugs that …
The role of the dopamine (DA) system in brain reward mechanisms and the development of substance abuse has been well established. We review earlier animal and human studies on DA and alcoholism with some relevant issues relating to those studies. The present animal and human data suggest several alterations in the DA system in the context of alcoholism. Receptor studies imply that DA D2 receptor density and function are lower at least among type 1 alcoholics, which suggests that they could benefit from drugs that enhance DAergic activity, such as partial DA agonists. These drugs could help to restore suboptimal levels of DAergic activity by reducing both the craving for alcohol in abstinence and the euphoria subsequent to alcohol's release of DA in the nucleus accumbens (NAC), thus providing negative reinforcement for relapse.
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