Effect of tryptophan depletion on alcohol cue-induced craving in abstinent alcoholic patients.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res
; 25(8): 1151-5, 2001 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11505046
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The capacity of alcohol cues to precipitate the desire to drink may be an important determinant of relapse to alcohol use in recovering alcohol-dependent patients. This study evaluated whether attenuation of serotonin synthesis via depletion of its precursor tryptophan reduces the magnitude of cue-induced craving for alcohol in recently abstinent alcoholic individuals.METHODS:
Alcohol-dependent patients (n = 16), 1 to 3 months after detoxification, who exhibited a 20% or greater increase in reported craving when presented with an alcoholic beverage, completed two additional alcohol cue-exposure test days, 1 week apart. Each cue exposure was preceded by administration of a concentrated amino acid drink that resulted in a rapid and significant decline in plasma free tryptophan (active depletion, no tryptophan supplementation) or a similar drink containing tryptophan (placebo depletion). Tests were conducted in a randomized, double-blind fashion.RESULTS:
There were no significant changes in the magnitude of cue-induced craving with active tryptophan depletion compared with placebo.CONCLUSIONS:
These data question the dependence of alcohol cue-induced craving in sober alcoholics on the ongoing synthesis of serotonin.
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Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Triptófano
/
Alcoholismo
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
Límite:
Adult
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Alcohol Clin Exp Res
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos