Animal Models of the Behavioral Symptoms of Substance Use Disorders

This chapter reviews the epidemiology of substance use, abuse and dependence on alcohol, nicotine and illicit drugs in the population among adults and adolescents; comorbidity with psychiatric disorders; the importance of early onset; and animal models of the Gateway Hypothesis. Existing epidemiological studies and reports have many limitations, necessitating extensive secondary analysis of the data sets to overcome some of those limitations. Nicotine is the most addictive of the drugs and the most chronic addiction. It is the one substance for which dependence is higher among women than men. Adolescence is a period of increased risk for drug abuse and dependence among last year users. Psychiatric comorbidity with substance use disorders is high, especially for antisocial personality disorder. Animal models of the Gateway Hypothesis have uncovered basic mechanisms of nicotine action in the brain.

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Animal Models of Addiction

Neurobiology of Mental Illness ◽

10.1093/med/9780199934959.003.0050 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 675-682 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rafael Maldonado ◽

J. David Jentsch ◽

Brigitte L. Kieffer ◽

Christopher J. Evans

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Substance Use ◽

Animal Models ◽

Drug Addiction ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Learning Motivation ◽

Psychiatric Diseases ◽

Addictive Behaviors ◽

Behavioral Adaptations ◽

Initial Drug

Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease considered to result from a series of transitions from voluntary use in search of a hedonic effect, to loss of control over this behavior, and ultimately to compulsive behavior. Important in the context of mental illness is that substance use disorders are comorbid with many psychiatric diseases, including depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. In current research on addiction, animal models recapitulate the phenotypes contributing to abuse susceptibility through initial drug taking, habitual drug taking, abstinence and finally relapse. These models have begun to unravel the molecular, cellular, and behavioral adaptations regulating addictive behaviors in research which has greatly enriched our understanding of the neurocircuitry mediating learning, motivation, mood and stress. This chapter systematically explores animal models that contribute insights to addiction behaviors including, reward, reinforcement, abstinence, relapse, and susceptibility for initiating additive behaviors.

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Animal Models of Addiction

10.1093/med/9780190681425.003.0043 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Evans J. Christopher ◽

Brigitte L. Kieffer ◽

David Jentsch ◽

Rafael J. Maldonado

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Animal Models ◽

Substance Use Disorders ◽

Critical Role ◽

Therapeutic Strategies ◽

Rodent Models ◽

Loss Of Control ◽

Preclinical Research ◽

Essential Proteins ◽

Drug Abstinence

Drug addiction, now officially diagnosed as substance use disorder (SUD), is a chronic brain syndrome characterized by the compulsive use of drugs, loss of control over drug taking in spite of its adverse consequences, and relapse even after long periods of drug abstinence. Animal models have played a critical role in our understanding of the molecules, circuits, and behaviors associated with substance use disorders. This chapter reviews animal models that have been widely used to assess all stages of the addiction cycle: from drug initiation, through drug seeking, to withdrawal and relapse. We discuss the power of genetics, especially in generating rodent models for the discovery of essential proteins and pathways regulating behaviors exhibited during the different stages of the addiction cycle. Preclinical research in animal models will undoubtedly continue to reveal therapeutic strategies for substance use disorders.

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