Articles tagged with Drug Relapse
A NIH study found that combination therapy of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy improved treatment adherence and reduced depression in injection drug users. The study showed nearly 40% of participants fully adherent to treatment were in remission, compared to 12% without treatment.
Researchers monitored brain activity in rats to understand how cues contribute to drug relapse. They found that rapid dopamine release occurs in response to cues associated with cocaine, initiating drug-seeking behaviors. This study provides new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cocaine addiction.
Bipolar disorder is associated with high rates of substance abuse, with 60% of patients using stimulants. Dual-diagnosis patients require increased hospitalization and have poorer treatment response. Researchers are studying medications to reduce drug cravings and usage.
A new study found that risperidone, a second-generation antipsychotic medication, cuts the one-year rate of relapse for patients with schizophrenia in half compared to haloperidol. This reduction could have significant economic benefits and improve patient outcomes.
A study suggests that minocycline, a common antibiotic, could be a potential therapy for multiple sclerosis. The drug showed promising results in rats with autoimmune encephalomyelitis, reducing neurologic dysfunction and disease severity.
Researchers found that individuals who took naltrexone for at least two months had fewer heavy drinking days and urges to drink, while coping skills training provided lasting benefits in reducing relapse severity.
University of Wisconsin researchers discover that environmental cues associated with drug use can produce profound molecular changes in brain circuits linked to learning and decision-making. The study suggests that long-term changes may persist in critical areas, particularly in people who self-administered drugs for long periods of time.
Researchers have discovered that environmental stimuli like smells can induce a neurochemical response in the brain that may reinstate alcohol-seeking behavior after withdrawal. This study suggests that understanding the mechanisms involved in relapse can lead to the development of medications that target specific critical neural systems.
A new medication nalmefene has been found to reduce the risk of relapse in alcohol-dependent individuals. In a 12-week clinical trial, patients who received nalmefene were 2.4 times less likely to relapse than those who received a placebo.
Heavy drinking depletes dopamine, gamma aminobutyric acid, opioid peptides and serotonin systems, while promoting stress chemicals like corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). This imbalance leaves alcoholics vulnerable to relapse after stopping drinking.