Historique
Article de Périodique
Contributions of basic science to understanding addiction (2010)
Auteur(s) :
KUHAR, M. J.
Année
2010
Page(s) :
25-35
Sous-type de document :
Revue de la littérature / Literature review
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Discipline :
PSY (Psychopathologie / Psychopathology)
Thésaurus mots-clés
ADDICTION
;
RECHERCHE
;
MODELE ANIMAL
;
AUTOADMINISTRATION
;
CERVEAU
;
NEUROBIOLOGIE
;
MECANISME D'ACTION
Résumé :
Discoveries in basic science have helped us understand the drug abuse/dependence/addiction brain disorder. One can view this brain disorder as a long-lasting, relapsing pattern of drug seeking and taking with adverse consequences. Drug self-administration studies in animals have revealed brain circuits and neurotransmitters that underlie drug-induced reward and reinforcement. Moreover, studies of effects of drugs on receptors have shown us how drugs can change gene expression and how drugs can change the biochemical makeup of the brain. Drug-induced changes in the brain are very long lasting, which presumably can explain why drug addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease. Also, drugs exert their actions at least partly through evolved brain circuits that serve functions critical for survival such as feeding and sex. Thus, drugs can harness our strongest instincts and the desire to use them can become very powerful. These findings should influence research, treatment and policy towards the disorder of drug addiction and abuse.
Affiliation :
Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, CA, United States