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There is a substantial need for discovering innovative ways to provide more information on the neurobiology of alcohol dependence as well as to discover more effective pharmacotherapies for alcohol dependence. Current research includes exploring new pathways able to modulate alcohol craving. In particular, research shows that several neuroendocrinological pathways may be involved in the neurobiology of alcohol craving and dependence. The first part of this review examines recent clinical findings on the role of feeding-related peptides in alcohol craving and dependence. Second, this review focuses on the need to discover new medications that may prove to be safe and effective in the treatment of alcohol dependence. For example, the GABA_B receptor has been suggested as a new possible neuropharmacological target in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Accordingly, the second part of this review examines recent clinical findings on the role of the selective GABA_B receptor agonist baclofen in the treatment of alcohol-dependent subjects. These two distinct topics will be both analyzed and discussed. The final part of this review discusses possible connections between these two topics, as an example of possible interactions between psychoneuroendocrinology and neuropharmacology. These possible interactions could lead to future intriguing research aimed at understanding and treating alcohol craving and dependence.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 3:18 am and is filed under Health news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.