Hormonal, psychological, and alcohol craving changes after m-chlorophenylpiperazine administration in alcoholics.
To assess the serotonergic function of alcoholics, their neuroendocrine and psychological responsivities to the serotonergic partial agonist meta-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP) was compared with the responsitivity of healthy subjects. The effect of m-CPP on craving for alcohol was also assessed in the alcoholics. Sixteen patients and 14 controls were tested under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. m-CPP (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) was given orally. Alcoholics were tested after a period of abstinence of 15 to 39 days. The two groups of subjects did not differ in their cortisol response to m-CPP, but the prolactin response of alcoholics was significantly blunted. Alcoholics reported a significantly more intense "high" feeling after m-CPP than the healthy subjects. m-CPP induced also a decreased craving for alcohol. Our data thus provide further evidence for the existence of a serotonergic dysfunction in alcoholics and a modulation of craving for alcohol by serotonergic systems.
Buydens-Branchey
L
L
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11209, USA.
Branchey
M
M
Fergeson
P
P
Hudson
J
J
McKernin
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
D010879:Piperazines; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D012701:Serotonin; D000431:Ethanol; D011388:Prolactin; C015068:1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine; D006854:Hydrocortisone