Effects of naltrexone on neural and subjective response to alcohol in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Positively reinforcing properties of alcohol are in part mediated by activation of the ventral striatum (VS). Alcohol-induced release of endogenous opioids is thought to contribute to this response. Preclinical studies show that the opioid antagonist naltrexone (NTX) can block this cascade, but its ability to do so in treatment-seeking alcoholics has not been examined. Our objective was to study the effects of NTX on alcohol-induced VS activation and on amygdala response to affective stimuli in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent inpatients.

Methods

Sixty-three treatment-seeking alcoholics were randomized to receive NTX (50 mg) or placebo (PLC) daily. On Day 7, participants underwent an alcohol cue reactivity session, and craving was measured using the Penn Alcoho

SUBMITTER: Spagnolo PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4293087 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature