title: Neuroendocrine correlates of temperament traits in abstinent opiate addicts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies investigating temperament traits of drug abusers and their biological correlates have disclosed high rates of novelty seeking (NS) in opiate addicts, possibly based on dysfunctions of the dopaminergic (DA) system. The aims of the present study were to see whether or not the monoamine functions were impaired in detoxified addicts and whether or not these alterations were correlated with temperament traits, given the possibility that impairment of the biological and temperament parameters might be responsible for the development of addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have investigated the DA, serotonergic (5-HT), and noradrenergic (NE) functions in 22 abstinent heroin addicts and 22 healthy controls by challenging the monoamine systems with the DA agonist bromocriptine (brom), the 5-HT agonist D-fenfluramine (D-fen), and the NE agonist clonidine (clon), respectively. We examined the temperament traits by measuring NS, harm avoidance (HA), and reward dependence (RD) using the "Three-Dimensional Personality Questionnaire" (TPQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Addicts showed higher than normal NS scores at TPQ blunted 5-HT function, and normal DA and NE activities, in response to the neuroendocrine challenges. NS correlated negatively with the DA function in both addicts and controls, and negatively with the 5-HT function only in addicts. HA correlated positively with 5-HT function in controls but not in addicts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impairment in 5-HT function observed in heroin addicts and the changes in the biological correlates of temperamental traits could increase the proneness to addiction and possible comorbid psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi Farmacotossicodipendenze, Ser. T., AUSL, Via Spalato 2, 43100 Parma, Italy. gerra@polaris.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaimovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timpano
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zambelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Begarani
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Marzocchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delsignore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brambilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine