Identifying the neural circuitry of alcohol craving and relapse vulnerability

摘要: With no further intervention, relapse rates in detoxified alcoholics are high and usually exceed 80% of all patients. It has been suggested that stress exposure to priming doses alcohol alcohol-associated stimuli (cues) contribute the risk after detoxification. This article focuses on neuronal correlates cue responses alcoholics. Current brain imaging studies indicate dysfunction dopaminergic, glutamatergic opioidergic neurotransmission reward system (ventral striatum including nucleus accumbens) can be associated with craving functional activation systems process attentional relevant stimuli, expectancy experience. Increased elicited by such cues predicted an increased risk, whereas activity affectively positive may represent a protective factor was correlated decreased prospective risk. These findings discussed respect psychotherapeutic pharmacological treatment options.