title: Pharmacological enhancement of drug cue extinction learning: translational challenges.
abstract: Augmentation of cue exposure (extinction) therapy with cognitive-enhancing pharmacotherapy may constitute a rational strategy for the clinical management of drug relapse. While certain success has been reported for this form of therapy in anxiety disorders, in this paper we highlight several obstacles that may undermine the efficacy of exposure therapy for substance use disorders. We also review translational studies that have evaluated the facilitative effects of the cognitive enhancer D-cycloserine on extinction targeting drug-related cues. Finally, important considerations for the design and implementation of future studies evaluating exposure therapy combined with pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. kkantak@bu.edu
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kantak
authors.forename: B Á
authors.initials: BÁ
authors.lastname: Nic Dhonnchadha
mesh_terms: D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003523:Cycloserine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
chemical_list: D003523:Cycloserine