Impulsivity, Stimulant Abuse, and Dopamine Receptor Signaling.
The nonmedical use of amphetamine-type stimulants is a worldwide problem, with substantial medical and social consequences. Nonetheless, the identification of a pharmacological treatment for amphetamine use disorder remains elusive. Stimulant users exhibit neurochemical evidence of dopamine-system dysfunction as well as impulsive behaviors that may interfere with the success of treatments for their addiction. This review focuses on the potential role of dopaminergic neurotransmission in impulsivity, both in healthy individuals and chronic stimulant users who meet criteria for methamphetamine dependence. Presented are findings related to the potential contributions of signaling through dopamine D1- and D2-type receptors to self-control impulsivity in methamphetamine- dependent users. The information available points to signaling through striatal D2-type dopamine receptors as a potential therapeutic target for stimulant use disorders, but medications that target D2-type dopamine receptors have not been successful in treating stimulant-use disorders, possibly because D2-type receptors are downregulated. Other means to augment D2-type receptor signaling are therefore under consideration, and one promising approach is the addition of exercise training as an adjunct to behavioral treatment for addiction.
Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. Electronic address: elondon@mednet.ucla.edu.
E D
ED
London
D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D008694:Methamphetamine; D004298:Dopamine
Addiction; Corticostriatal; Dopamine; Magnetic resonance imaging; Methamphetamine; Positron emission tomography; Stimulant