title: Acute effects of heroin on emotions in heroin-dependent patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Euphoria has been described in heroin-dependent individuals after heroin administration. However, affective disturbances and disorders are common in heroin dependence. The present study examined the acute effects of heroin on emotions in heroin-dependent patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled crossover trial included 28 heroin-dependent patients (67.9% male, n = 19) in stable heroin-assisted treatment and 20 healthy controls. The patients were administered heroin or saline (placebo), the controls were administered saline. Data measuring mood, affects and heroin craving (BDI, AMRS, STAI, STAXI, and HCQ) were assessed before and 60 minutes after substance injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before substance injection, heroin-dependent patients showed significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than healthy controls (p < .0001). Heroin administration-but not placebo administration-was associated with a significant decrease in all negative emotions, including craving, and a significant increase in emotional well-being (p < .0001), irrespective of perceived intoxication and sedation. After the experiment, the patients did not differ from healthy controls in their emotions, once they had received heroin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heroin dampens craving, negative emotions, and increases positive emotions. These findings indicate that heroin regulates emotions and underscore the clinical benefit of opioid substitution treatment for heroin-dependent patients.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Hospital, Division of Substance Use Disorders, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gerhard
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petitjean
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riecher-Rössler
authors.forename: Gerhard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wiesbeck
authors.forename: Stefan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Borgwardt
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D003932:Heroin