Factors in Alcoholic Relapse *

Advances in the Use of Naltrexone an Integration of Preclinical and Clinical Findings

“…To understand how naltrexone may support abstinence, investigators have examined how naltrexone alters responses to situations that have been implicated in resumption of drinking, such as stress and/or negative affect in humans (Brown, Vik, Patterson, Grant, & Schuckit, 1995;Hore, 1971) and alcohol-related cues (Ludwig, Wikler, & Stark, 1974;Monti et al, 1993;Staiger & White, 1991). In the animal literature, one animal model, the reinstatement model (Stewart & de Wit, 1987), is particularly relevant to reinitiation of drinking following a period of abstinence.…”

Levels and circadian rhythmicity of plasma ACTH, cortisol, and β-endorphin as a function of family history of alcoholism

“…Sociocultural studies have pointed to several environmental factors, including stress, which increase or decrease the risk for alcoholism (Hore 1971;Kushner et al 1990;San Jose et al 2000;Ragland et al 2000). Stress is any perceived challenge, either physical or psychological, real or imagined, that will disturb an individual's relatively steady internal environment, known as homeostasis, which allows optimal functioning of the organism (Selye 1946).…”

Reinstatement of alcohol-seeking by priming injections of alcohol and exposure to stress in rats

“…Clinical reports and studies with humans in the laboratory indicate that acute reexposure to alcohol Bigelow et al 1977;Hodgson et al 1979;de Wit and Chutuape 1993;Chutuape et al 1994;see de Wit 1996) and exposure to stress (Hore 1971;Cooper et al 1992;Brown et al 1995) are important contributors to relapse to drug use and increased desire for alcohol.…”