Traditional approaches to the problem of drug dependence have focused upon treatment after drug dependence has been well established. A number of pharmacotherapy approaches to the treatment of drug dependence have been undertaken, and these studies have consistently produced negative results. In fact, the very drugs we propose to study in this proposal have been investigated as possible treatments for drug dependence. Even though these drugs are not effective in the treatment of drug dependent patients, such drugs may be used to alter behaviors which place individuals at high risk for drug dependence. Once the drug reinforcement and associated dependence are in operation in the drug dependent individual, such drug interventions may be of little value. In the non drug dependent individual, these drugs may be effective via a totally different mechanism. Modifying high risk behaviors, like aggression and impulsivity, may reduce the probability that the individual will engage in drug seeking behavior prior to the development of drug dependence. Rather than attempting to interfere with the reinforcing effects of the drug of abuse, the proposed research would be an initial step toward examining the possibility of reducing drug seeking by altering antecedent high risk behavior. We propose to examine an area which may lead to a different approach to the treatment of drug dependence, namely the pharmacological alteration of certain classes of behavior which are associated with drug dependence. These behaviors are aggression and impulsivity; taken together they contribute to a """"""""""""""""temperament"""""""""""""""" which has been predictive of subsequent drug dependence, aggression and criminal behavior. We propose to examine the alteration of aggressive and impulsive behavior under controlled laboratory conditions employing drugs which have been used to treat patients with similar types of behavior problems. There is suggestive evidence that these drugs may be useful in altering behaviors which frequently lead to drug dependence. Four pharmacological agents will be used to examine their effects on aggressive and impulsive behavior in two different populations of subjects: 1) subjects with a history of childhood conduct disorder (CD) + current antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), probably the highest risk population, and 2) matched controls. The drugs to be employed are carbamazepine, fenfluramine, methylphenidate, and paroxetine. The proposed research will provide information about the effects of selected therapeutics agents on fundamental aspects of behavior (aggression and impulsivity) which may place individuals at risk for drug dependence. Pharmacological effects of these therapeutics drugs on such behavior in a high risk population may provide information relating to alternative strategies in dealing with drug dependence.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 396 publications
