title: Effect of bupropion treatment on brain activation induced by cigarette-related cues in smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nicotine-dependent smokers exhibit craving and brain activation in the prefrontal and limbic regions when presented with cigarette-related cues. Bupropion hydrochloride treatment reduces cue-induced craving in cigarette smokers; however, the mechanism by which bupropion exerts this effect has not yet been described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in regional brain activation in response to cigarette-related cues from before to after treatment with bupropion (vs placebo).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, double-blind, before-after controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic brain imaging center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty nicotine-dependent smokers (paid volunteers).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of treatment with either bupropion or a matching placebo pill (double-blind).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjective cigarette craving ratings and regional brain activations (blood oxygen level-dependent response) in response to viewing cue videos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bupropion-treated participants reported less craving and exhibited reduced activation in the left ventral striatum, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and bilateral anterior cingulate cortex from before to after treatment when actively resisting craving compared with placebo-treated participants. When resisting craving, reduction in self-reported craving correlated with reduced regional brain activation in the bilateral medial orbitofrontal and left anterior cingulate cortices in all participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with bupropion is associated with improved ability to resist cue-induced craving and a reduction in cue-induced activation of limbic and prefrontal brain regions, while a reduction in craving, regardless of treatment type, is associated with reduced activation in prefrontal brain regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Culbertson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bramen
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Edythe D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: London
authors.forename: Richard E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Olmstead
authors.forename: Joanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shulenberger
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mandelkern
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Brody
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003463:Cues; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008032:Limbic System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016642:Bupropion