Monday, October 29, 2007

Biology and Addiction

Some items from the science world today that point to better ways to treat substance abuse and possibly open doors for future TECHNOCORRECTIONS:

Chilean researchers have identified a region of the brain -- the insular cortex -- that plays a role in drug craving in amphetamine-addicted rats, according to a report published in Science. This finding ultimately may help support the development of new therapies to treat drug addiction as well as certain behavioral side effects of medications. . . .

"By adapting and applying mindfulness-based stress reduction or MBSR in alcoholism treatment, we hope to develop an increased ability to cope with stress and enhanced psychological well-being among alcohol-dependent individuals," said Gerard J. Connors, Ph.D. "For people who often deal with stress in their lives by turning to alcohol, this could be a very positive alternative."

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A researcher at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) is initiating a study of "mindfulness-based stress reduction," a technique often used in behavioral medicine for stress reduction but not before as an adjunct in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

"By adapting and applying mindfulness-based stress reduction or MBSR in alcoholism treatment, we hope to develop an increased ability to cope with stress and enhanced psychological well-being among alcohol-dependent individuals," said Gerard J. Connors, Ph.D. "For people who often deal with stress in their lives by turning to alcohol, this could be a very positive alternative."

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A researcher at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine suggests that psychiatrists may need to approach the treatment of psychiatric patients from a new direction -- by understanding that such individuals' behavior and decision-making are based on an attempt to reach an inner equilibrium.

Martin Paulus, M.D., professor in UCSD's Department of Psychiatry, has compiled a body of growing evidence that human decision-making is inextricably linked to an individuals' need to maintain a homeostatic balance.

"This is a state of dynamic equilibrium, much like controlling body temperature," said Paulus. "How humans select a particular course of action may be in response to raising or lowering that 'set point' back to their individual comfort zone. In people with psychiatric disorders or addictions, the thermostat may be broken." . . .

The question addressed in part by this paper, published in Science, are whether changes in decision-making behavior and associated brain functions are a result of pre-existing characteristics -- which may predispose individuals to use drugs -- or as a consequence of long-term use.

"Decision-making dysfunctions and resultant altered neural processing could provide a biomarker to identify those at high-risk for addictive behaviors," said Paulus, who added that much additional research is needed before scientists could begin to use such an approach.

In an upcoming paper in the journal "Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience," Paulus cites the complex affective, cognitive and behavioral phenomena that come into play during decision-making. "The interoceptive system is able to connect with various physiological systems in the brain to orchestrate a complex set of responses," he said, adding that craving and urges are among the most notable responses that play important functions in maintaining homeostasis.

Insights into how pleasure and urge are integrated in the brain and how this process is modulated can play an important role in the understanding of -- and possible future treatment of -- drug addiction, according to Paulus.

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