This application is to study comorbid disorders that affect the treatment of opiate dependence.
The specific aims of the proposed program of research are as follows: Study 1 will examine comorbid depression as a predictive factor in treatment with desipramine and contingency management of cocaine abusing opiate dependent subjects maintained on buprenorphine by secondary data analysis of a completed randomized clinical trial. Study 2 will evaluate the efficacy of sertraline in the treatment of cocaine dependent patients with comorbid depression in a recently started double-blind randomized clinical trial. Study 3 will determine changes of health care cost after treatment of opiate dependence in the Veterans Affairs health delivery system using existing administrative databases. It will determine whether confounding factors, especially comorbid depression and cocaine dependence, may affect changes in costs. The overall aim of the proposal is to provide me with a supervised patient oriented research and educational experience that will enable me to become an independent investigator in substance abuse. My specific career development goals are to: (1) Acquire in-depth knowledge of the neuropharmacology of cocaine and opiate dependence, and of substance induced mood disorders. (2) Develop expertise in clinical research and management of cocaine and opiate dependence, and current pharmacotherapies. (3) Develop skills in Mental Health Service research related to substance abuse. The proposed career development plan utilizes the collaboration of Thomas Kosten, MD in developing expertise executing randomized clinical trials, Robert Rosenheck, MD in developing skills in mental health services research and Kevin Sevarino, MD, PhD in clinical management of opiate dependence. The educational experience includes a four year period of formal coursework at the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program at the Yale School of Medicine and at the Yale School of Epidemiology and Public Health. This K23 research career award will enable me to start an academic career focusing on research in cocaine and opiate dependence and to develop a bridge between clinical trials and services research.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23DA014331-02
Application #
6515916
Study Section
Human Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA)
Program Officer
Montoya, Ivan
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2006-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$136,847
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Gonzalez, Gerardo; Desai, Rani; Sofuoglu, Mehmet et al. (2007) Clinical efficacy of gabapentin versus tiagabine for reducing cocaine use among cocaine dependent methadone-treated patients. Drug Alcohol Depend 87:1-9
Rabenstein, Rebecca L; Addy, Nii A; Caldarone, Barbara J et al. (2005) Impaired synaptic plasticity and learning in mice lacking beta-adducin, an actin-regulating protein. J Neurosci 25:2138-45
Gonzalez, Gerardo; Oliveto, Alison; Kosten, Thomas R (2004) Combating opiate dependence: a comparison among the available pharmacological options. Expert Opin Pharmacother 5:713-25
Romero-Gonzalez, Mauricio; Gonzalez, Gerardo; Rosenheck, Robert A (2003) Mental health service delivery following health system reform in Colombia. J Ment Health Policy Econ 6:189-94
Gonzalez, Gerardo; Sevarino, Kevin; Sofuoglu, Mehmet et al. (2003) Tiagabine increases cocaine-free urines in cocaine-dependent methadone-treated patients: results of a randomized pilot study. Addiction 98:1625-32
Gonzalez, Gerardo; Feingold, Alan; Oliveto, Alison et al. (2003) Comorbid major depressive disorder as a prognostic factor in cocaine-abusing buprenorphine-maintained patients treated with desipramine and contingency management. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 29:497-514
Gonzalez, Gerardo; Oliveto, Alison; Kosten, Thomas R (2002) Treatment of heroin (diamorphine) addiction: current approaches and future prospects. Drugs 62:1331-43