Behavioral, biological, and chemical perspectives on targeting CRF(1) receptor antagonists to treat alcoholism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol use disorders are chronic disabling conditions for which existing pharmacotherapies have only modest efficacy. In the present review, derived from the 2012 Behavior, Biology and Chemistry "Translational Research in Addiction" symposium, we summarize the anti-relapse potential of corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 (CRF(1)) receptor antagonists to reduce negative emotional symptoms of acute and protracted alcohol withdrawal and stress-induced relapse to alcohol seeking.

Methods

We review the biology of CRF(1) systems, the activity of CRF(1) receptor antagonists in animal models of anxiolytic and antidepressant activity, and experimental findings in alcohol addiction models. We also update the clinical trial status of CRF(1) receptor antagonists, including

SUBMITTER: Zorrilla EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3596012 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature