Resources

addiction science, brain disease

Addiction: A Disease of Learning and Memory (2005)
Type: Document
Downloadable: Yes
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For the motivated physician who wishes to understand the neurobiology of addiction. The author, Steven E. Hyman, M.D., presents evidence that addiction represents a pathological usurpation or hijacking of neural mechanism of learning and memory. Highly recommended for those interested in learning Dopamine’s importance in addiction, “liking,” “wanting,” and assignment of “incentive salience” to reward and reward related cues.  Am J Psychiatry 2005; 162:1414-1422.

Drug Abuse: Hedonic Homeostatic Dysregulation (1997)
Type: Document
Downloadable: Yes
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Research by George F. Koob and Michel Le Moal published in Science which explains some of the neurobiology of addiction, focusing on the disruption to the stress hormones. They discuss animal models for reward, sensitization, motivation, withdrawal, craving and relapse. This paper is one of several examples of the research base that informs our daily work in addiction treatment and form a powerful argument for stability and balance as a therapeutic goal.  Science 1997; 278:275-281.

In Search of How People Change: Applications to Addictive Behaviors (1992)
Type: Document
Downloadable: Yes
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This paper by James Prochaska et. al. studies the process by which people intentionally change their behavior, with and without treatment interventions, and develops the key concept of stages of change, which is the basis for many current psychosocial approaches to addiction. It models an integrative approach across several theoretical frameworks, and provides a way of seeing patient behavior as a continuous process toward change, including relapse as part of this cycling and recovery as maintenance of change. It argues for a tailoring of intervention according to stage. Am Psychol 1992; 47(9):1102-1114.

Neuroscience of Addiction (1998)
Type: Document
Downloadable: Yes
Comments: 0
This paper by George F. Koob and Floyd E. Bloom which appeared in Neuron explains some of the neurobiology of addiction, focusing on the disruption to the stress hormones. They discuss animal models for reward, sensitization, motivation, withdrawal, craving and relapse. One of several examples of the research base that informs our daily work in addiction treatment and form a powerful argument for stability and balance as a therapeutic goal.  Neuron 1998; 21:467-476.

The Neural Basis of Addiction: A Pathology of Motivation and Choice (2005)
Type: Document
Downloadable: Yes
Comments: 0
For the motivated physician who desires an overview of neural-cellular adaptation that occurs with addiction. Comprehensive and dense. The authors, Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D. and Nora D. Volkow, M.D., provide a wonderful, albeit complex, overview of the brain pathways involved in motivation, reward and the initiation of addiction. Includes presentation of cellular adaptations associated with addiction. Am J Psychiatry 2005; 162:1403-1413.

The Neurobiology of Addiction: Implications for Voluntary Control of Behavior (2007)
Type: URL
Downloadable: No
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An excellent paper for physicians and patients with some understanding of neurobiology (high school level) who desire information on addiction and voluntary control.Addresses the debate of brain disease vs. moral condition and the important issue of voluntary control as it applies to addiction. Includes and easier to follow overview of the neurobiology of addiction than Dr. Hyman’s 2005 AJP article (above). Discusses the evolution of motivated behavior and the usurpation of the pursuit of natural reward by Dopamine signaling propagated by addictive substances. Lastly, a discussion of personal and social responsibilities as they pertain to addiction. Read the full paper online at The American Journal of Bioethics.
Am J Bioeth 2007; 7(1):8.

Why Are Drugs Abused By Humans? (2005)
Type: URL
Downloadable: No
Comments: 0
An easy to read presentation of a talk given by Nora Volkow, MD, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in 2005. She addresses neurochemical changes in people who are addicted and questions the relative contributions of chronic drug exposure, effects of genes that predispose persons to become addicted and/or effects of the environment that facilitate the translation of addiction. Read it online at the Psychiatric Times website. Psychiatric Times May 2005; XXII (2).