This project explores pharmacodynamic approaches to developing new treatments for drug dependence and reduction of HIV transmission risk behaviors, with a current focus on cannabis, and nicotine dependence. Many subjects are at high risk for contracting and spreading HIV infection. Pharmacodynamic approaches being studied include modulation of brain neural circuits and neurotransmitter activity using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in collaboration with the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. TMS involves projecting pulsed magnetic fields through the skull into the brain, where they alter neuronal firing and change levels of neurotransmitters. TMS is a well tolerated, non-invasive way of modulating activity in brain circuits that mediate drug craving and reward, thus offering a potential treatment for drug addiction. Pilot studies are being conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of either single-pulse or low-frequency repetitive TMS in users of nicotine. A pilot study showed that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) could be successfully used to target TMS pulses to a desired brain region.
| Boggs, Douglas L; Kelly, Deanna L; Liu, Fang et al. (2013) Cannabis withdrawal in chronic cannabis users with schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 47:240-5 |
| Danovitch, Itai; Gorelick, David A (2012) State of the art treatments for cannabis dependence. Psychiatr Clin North Am 35:309-26 |
| Minkowski, Carolynne P; Epstein, David; Frost, J James et al. (2012) Differential response to IV carfentanil in chronic cocaine users and healthy controls. Addict Biol 17:149-55 |
| Gorelick, David A; Levin, Kenneth H; Copersino, Marc L et al. (2012) Diagnostic criteria for cannabis withdrawal syndrome. Drug Alcohol Depend 123:141-7 |
| Gorelick, David A (2012) Pharmacokinetic strategies for treatment of drug overdose and addiction. Future Med Chem 4:227-43 |
| Martins, Silvia S; Gorelick, David A (2011) Conditional substance abuse and dependence by diagnosis of mood or anxiety disorder or schizophrenia in the U.S. population. Drug Alcohol Depend 119:28-36 |
| Harrell, P T; Montoya, I D; Preston, K L et al. (2011) Cigarette smoking and short-term addiction treatment outcome. Drug Alcohol Depend 115:161-6 |
| Weinstein, A M; Gorelick, David A (2011) Pharmacological treatment of cannabis dependence. Curr Pharm Des 17:1351-8 |
| Kelly, Deanna L; Gorelick, David A; Conley, Robert R et al. (2011) Effects of the cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist rimonabant on psychiatric symptoms in overweight people with schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 31:86-91 |
| Grant, Jon E; Potenza, Marc N; Weinstein, Aviv et al. (2010) Introduction to behavioral addictions. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 36:233-41 |
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