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1.
Brain Res ; 1841: 149086, 2024 Oct 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38876319

ABSTRACT

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains a critical public health issue worldwide, characterized by high relapse rates often triggered by contextual cues. This research investigates the neural mechanisms behind context-induced reinstatement of alcohol-seeking behavior, focusing on the nucleus accumbens and its interactions with the prelimbic cortex, employing Male Long-Evans rats in an ABA renewal model. In our experimental setup, rats were trained to self-administer 10 % ethanol in Context A, followed by extinction of lever pressing in the presence of discrete cues in Context B. The context-induced reinstatement of ethanol-seeking was then assessed by re-exposing rats to Context A or B under extinction conditions, aiming to simulate the environmental cues' influence on relapse behaviors. Three experiments were conducted: Experiment 1 utilized Fos-immunohistochemistry to examine neuronal activation in the nucleus accumbens; Experiment 2 applied the baclofen + muscimol inactivation technique to probe the functional importance of the nucleus accumbens core; Experiment 3 used Fos-immunofluorescence along with Retrobeads injection to investigate activation of neurons projecting from the prelimbic cortex to the nucleus accumbens core. Our findings revealed significant increases in Fos-immunoreactive nuclei within the nucleus accumbens core and shell during the reinstatement phase in Context A, underscoring the environment's potent effect on ethanol-seeking behavior. Additionally, inactivation of the nucleus accumbens core markedly reduced reinstatement, and there was a notable activation of neurons from the prelimbic cortex to the nucleus accumbens core in the ethanol-associated context. These results highlight the critical role of the nucleus accumbens core and its corticostriatal projections in the neural circuitry underlying context-driven ethanol seeking.


Subject(s)
Drug-Seeking Behavior , Ethanol , Extinction, Psychological , Nucleus Accumbens , Rats, Long-Evans , Animals , Nucleus Accumbens/drug effects , Male , Ethanol/administration & dosage , Ethanol/pharmacology , Drug-Seeking Behavior/physiology , Rats , Extinction, Psychological/physiology , Extinction, Psychological/drug effects , Self Administration , Neural Pathways/physiology , Alcoholism , Cues , Prefrontal Cortex/physiology , Prefrontal Cortex/drug effects , Baclofen/pharmacology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos/metabolism , Muscimol/pharmacology
2.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(3)2023 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36769126

ABSTRACT

Studies performed in a mouse model of chronic inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) have shown that constitutive activation of the endogenous opioid signaling, besides serving as a mechanism of endogenous analgesia that tonically represses pain sensitization, also generates a state of endogenous opioid dependence. Since species-related differences concerning pain biology and addictive behaviors occur between mice and rats, the present study explored whether the coexistence of endogenous opioid analgesia and endogenous opioid dependence also characterizes a homologous rat model. To this aim, CFA-injured Wistar rats were treated with either 3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg of the opioid receptor inverse agonist naltrexone (NTX) during the pain remission phase and monitored for 60 min for possible withdrawal behaviors. At 3 mg/kg, NTX, besides inducing the reinstatement of mechanical allodynia, also caused a distinct appearance of ptosis, with slight but nonsignificant changes to the occurrence of teeth chatters and rearing. On the other hand, 10 mg/kg of NTX failed to unmask pain sensitization and induced significantly lower levels of ptosis than 3 mg/kg. Such an NTX-related response pattern observed in the rat CFA model seems to differ substantially from the pattern previously described in the mouse CFA model. This supports the knowledge that mice and rats are not identical in terms of pharmacological response and stresses the importance of choosing the appropriate species for preclinical pain research purposes depending on the scientific question being asked.


Subject(s)
Chronic Pain , Opioid-Related Disorders , Rats , Mice , Animals , Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology , Drug Inverse Agonism , Rats, Wistar , Inflammation/drug therapy , Chronic Pain/drug therapy , Hyperalgesia/drug therapy , Opioid Peptides/therapeutic use , Naltrexone/pharmacology , Naltrexone/therapeutic use , Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy , Disease Models, Animal
3.
Braz. J. Pharm. Sci. (Online) ; 59: e20883, 2023. graf
Article in English | LILACS | ID: biblio-1429966

ABSTRACT

Abstract Nicotine addiction leads to in a huge burden on public health and the economy worldwide. Resveratrol (3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene) is the most well-known polyphenolic stilbenoid. Resveratrol was shown to exhibit positive effects on numerous mechanisms that are important for drug and substance addiction. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effect of resveratrol on nicotine addiction. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with nicotine (0.5 mg/kg) significantly enhanced time spent in the nicotine-paired compartment. Resveratrol (50 and 75 mg/kg, i.p.) and varenicline (2 mg/kg, i.p.) co-administered with nicotine during the 3-day conditioning period effectively diminished the acquisition of nicotine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). On the other hand, the administration of resveratrol (50 and 75 mg/kg, i.p.) and varenicline (2 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased the low dose (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) nicotine-induced reinstatement. The results suggest that resveratrol and varenicline inhibit the acquisition and reinstatement of nicotine's reward properties. Resveratrol displayed similar results in the CPP phases as obtained with the reference drug varenicline. In conclusion, resveratrol could be beneficial as an adjuvant pharmacotherapy for nicotine addiction; however, more investigation is needed to completely explain this property.


Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Mice , Tobacco Use Disorder/diagnosis , Resveratrol/adverse effects , Varenicline/adverse effects
4.
Front Pharmacol ; 12: 739012, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34621171

ABSTRACT

Ibogaine is a psychedelic extracted from the plant Tabernanthe iboga Baill. (Apocynaceae), natural from Africa, and has been proposed as a potential treatment for substance use disorders. In animal models, ibogaine reduces ethanol self-administration. However, no study to date has investigated the effects of ibogaine on ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated treatment with ibogaine on the reinstatement of CPP to ethanol in male mice. The rewarding effects of ethanol (1.8 g/kg, i. p.) or ibogaine (10 or 30 mg/kg, p. o.) were investigated using the CPP model. Furthermore, we evaluated the effects of repeated treatment with ibogaine (10 or 30 mg/kg, p. o.) on the reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP. Reinstatement was evaluated under two conditions: 1) during a priming injection re-exposure test in which animals received a priming injection of ethanol and had free access to the CPP apparatus; 2) during a drug-free test conducted 24 h after a context-paired re-exposure, in which subjects received an injection of ethanol and were confined to the compartment previously conditioned to ethanol. Our results show that ethanol, but not ibogaine, induced CPP in mice. Treatment with ibogaine after conditioning with ethanol blocked the reinstatement of ethanol-induced CPP, both during a drug priming reinstatement test and during a drug-free test conducted after re-exposure to ethanol in the ethanol-paired compartment. Our findings add to the literature suggesting that psychedelics, in particular ibogaine, may have therapeutic properties for the treatment of alcohol use disorder at doses that do not have rewarding effects per se.

5.
Psicol. (Univ. Brasília, Online) ; 37: e37216, 2021. tab, graf
Article in Portuguese | LILACS-Express | LILACS, Index Psychology - journals | ID: biblio-1155134

ABSTRACT

Resumo O reaparecimento de variabilidade comportamental previamente extinta (i.e., recaída) foi investigado por meio dos modelos experimentais de renovação, restabelecimento e ressurgência. Na Fase de Treino (contexto A), ao serem expostos ao esquema múltiplo Lag 10 Acoplado, ratos apresentaram níveis similares de variabilidade nos dois componentes. Na Fase de Eliminação (contexto B), o esquema múltiplo Repetição Repetição promoveu a extinção da variabilidade. Na Fase de Teste (contexto A), com a suspensão da contingência de repetição e a liberação de reforços independentes, a variabilidade reapareceu no componente "Lag 10", anteriormente correlacionado com reforçamento da variação, mas não no componente "Acoplado". Esse resultado sugere que a variabilidade observada no teste de recaída corresponde à variabilidade operante, e não à variabilidade induzida pela extinção.


Abstract The reappearance of previously extinguished behavioral variability (i.e. relapse) was investigated with three experimental models: renewal, reinstatement and resurgence. In the Training Phase (context A), when exposed to the multiple Lag 10 Yoke schedule, rats showed similar levels of variability in both components. In the Elimination Phase (context B), the multiple Repetition schedule promoted the extinction of variability. In the Test Phase (context A), with the suspension of the repetition contingency and the delivery of response-independent reinforcers, variability reappeared in the "Lag 10" component, the one previously correlated with the reinforcement of variation, but not in the "Yoke" component. This result suggests that the variability observed in the relapse test corresponded to operant variability, and not to extinction-induced variability.

6.
Front Behav Neurosci ; 14: 617418, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33633548

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Nicotine is the major addictive component of cigarette smoke and the prime culprit of the failure to quit smoking. Common elements perpetuating the use of addictive drugs are (i) cues associated with the setting in which drug was used and (ii) relapse/reinstatement mediated by an increased glutamatergic tone (iii) associated with drug-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. AIMS: The present study assessed the effect of the coadministration of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) plus the anti-inflammatory acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on oral nicotine reinstatement intake following a post-deprivation re-access in female rats that had chronically and voluntarily consumed a nicotine solution orally. The nicotine-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and its effects on the glutamate transporters GLT-1 and XCT mRNA levels in prefrontal cortex were also analyzed. RESULTS: The oral coadministration of NAC (40 mg/kg/day) and ASA (15 mg/kg/day) inhibited by 85% of the oral nicotine reinstatement intake compared to control (vehicle), showing an additive effect of both drugs. Acetylsalicylic acid and N-acetylcysteine normalized hippocampal oxidative stress and blunted the hippocampal neuroinflammation observed upon oral nicotine reinstatement. Nicotine downregulated GLT-1 and xCT gene expression in the prefrontal cortex, an effect reversed by N-acetylcysteine, while acetylsalicylic acid reversed the nicotine-induced downregulation of GLT-1 gene expression. The inhibitory effect of N-acetylcysteine on chronic nicotine intake was blocked by the administration of sulfasalazine, an inhibitor of the xCT transporter. CONCLUSION: Nicotine reinstatement, following post-deprivation of chronic oral nicotine intake, downregulates the mRNA levels of GLT-1 and xCT transporters, an effect reversed by the coadministration of N-acetylcysteine and acetylsalicylic acid, leading to a marked inhibition of nicotine intake. The combination of these drugs may constitute a valuable adjunct in the treatment of nicotine-dependent behaviors.

7.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) ; 237(3): 681-693, 2020 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31828395

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Individuals with opioid use disorders often relapse into drug-seeking behavior after recalling memories linked to the drug use experience. Improving extinction efficacy has been used as a strategy to treat substance use disorders and suppress relapse. Although N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) agonists facilitate acquisition, consolidation, and extinction, no study has addressed whether spermidine (SPD), a natural polyamine ligand of the NMDA receptor, facilitates the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of SPD, an NMDAr agonist, on the extinction and reinstatement of morphine-induced CPP in mice. Adult male albino Swiss mice received saline (0.9% NaCl) or morphine (5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p.) and were respectively confined to a black or a white compartment for 30 min for four consecutive days for CPP induction. SPD (10-30 mg/kg, i.p.) or ifenprodil (NMDAr antagonist, 0.1-1 mg/kg, i.p.) were injected 15 min before extinction training. RESULTS: SPD and ifenprodil facilitated the extinction of morphine-induced CPP. SPD treatment during the extinction period impaired reinstatement induced by a priming dose of morphine (1.25 mg/kg). Ifenprodil (0.1 mg/kg) prevented the facilitatory effect of spermidine on the extinction of morphine-induced CPP but did not prevent reinstatement induced by morphine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SPD facilitated the extinction of morphine-induced CPP by modulating the polyamine binding site of the NMDA receptor. Our findings reveal important effects of SPD and ifenprodil on the re-exposure-induced decrease in morphine-induced CPP, which may be promising for developing novel pharmacological strategies to treat opioid use disorder.


Subject(s)
Conditioning, Classical/drug effects , Drug-Seeking Behavior/drug effects , Extinction, Psychological/drug effects , Morphine/adverse effects , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/agonists , Spermidine/therapeutic use , Animals , Conditioning, Classical/physiology , Drug-Seeking Behavior/physiology , Extinction, Psychological/physiology , Male , Mice , Morphine/pharmacology , Motor Activity/drug effects , Motor Activity/physiology , N-Methylaspartate/pharmacology , Opioid-Related Disorders/drug therapy , Opioid-Related Disorders/psychology , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Spermidine/pharmacology
8.
Zootaxa ; 4379(2): 287-294, 2018 Feb 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29689990

ABSTRACT

The following synonymies are proposed: Chydarteres formosus Galileo Martins, 2010 as a junior synonym of Andraegoidus fabricii (Dupont, 1838); Nyssosternus Gilmour, 1963 as a junior synonym of Stenolis Bates, 1864; Periestola Breuning, 1943 as a junior synonym of Cobelura Erichson, 1847; Cobelura inornata Monné Monné, 2017 as a junior synonym of Cobelura strandi (Breuning, 1943), new combination; Cobelura curiosa (Monné Martins, 1976), new combination, removed from synonymy of Cobelura strandi. Trachyderes (T.) latecinctus Martins, 1975, new status. New state records: Parasphallenum fulguratum (Chabrillac, 1857), newly recorded from Brazil, Amazonas; Melathemma polita Bates, 1870, newly recorded from Brazil, Acre; Trachyderes (T.) latecinctus Martins, 1975, newly recorded from Brazil, Roraima. New country records: Paracleodoxus cineraceus Monné Monné, 2010, newly recorded from Colombia; Oreodera tuberculata Thomson, 1865, newly recorded from Brazil, Pará; Rhaphiptera avicenniae Dalens Tavakilian, 2007, newly recorded from Brazil, Pará; Rhaphipteroides apicalis Tavakilian, Dalens Touroult, 2007, newly recorded from Brazil, Amazonas. The correct type locality of Oncideres ochreostillata Dillon Dillon, 1952 is given.


Subject(s)
Coleoptera , Animals , Brazil , Colombia , Spiders
9.
Front Pharmacol ; 8: 725, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29089891

ABSTRACT

Evidence indicates that drug relapse in humans is often provoked by exposure to the self-administered drug-associated context. An animal model called "ABA renewal procedure" has been used to study the context-induced relapse to drug seeking. Here, we reported a new and feasible training procedure for the ABA renewal method to explore the role of the prelimbic cortex in context-induced relapse to ethanol seeking. By using a saccharin fading technique, we trained rats to self-administer ethanol (10%). The drug delivery was paired with a discrete tone-light cue. Lever pressing was subsequently extinguished in a non-drug-associated context in the presence of the discrete cue. Rats were subsequently tested for reinstatement in contexts A or B, under extinction conditions. Ethanol-associated context induced the reinstatement of ethanol seeking and increased the expression of Fos in the prelimbic cortex. The rate of neural activation in the prelimbic cortex was 3.4% in the extinction context B and 7.7% in the drug-associated context A, as evidenced by double-labeling of Fos and the neuron-specific protein NeuN. The reversible inactivation of the neural activity in the prelimbic cortex with gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonists (muscimol + baclofen) attenuated the context-induced reinstatement of ethanol self-administration. These results demonstrated that the neuronal activation of the prelimbic cortex is involved in the context-induced reinstatement of ethanol seeking.

10.
Eur J Pharmacol ; 788: 84-89, 2016 Oct 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27316790

ABSTRACT

A large body of evidence has shown that the Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) system, which plays a key role in stress modulation, is deeply involved in relapse to alcohol seeking induced by exposure to stressful events such as foot shock or yohimbine injections. Exposure to environmental cues is also known to be a trigger for alcohol relapse, nevertheless, the relationship between the relapse evoked by the cue-induced model and the CRF stress systems remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in male Wistar rats, the involvement of the CRF system and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis in relapse induced by environmental cues. Antalarmin, a selective CRF1 receptor antagonist, Metyrapone, a corticosterone (CORT) synthesis inhibitor and CORT were evaluated for their effects on the reinstatement test in a cue-induced relapse model. Antalarmin (20mg/kg) blocked relapse to alcohol seeking induced by environmental cues. Metyrapone (50 and 100mg/kg) also blocked relapse in Wistar rats but only at the highest dose (100mg/kg). Corticosterone had no effect on relapse at the doses tested. The results obtained from this study suggest that the CRF stress system and the HPA axis are involved in cue-induced alcohol relapse.


Subject(s)
Behavior, Addictive/physiopathology , Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism , Cues , Ethanol/pharmacology , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/physiopathology , Pituitary-Adrenal System/physiopathology , Stress, Physiological/drug effects , Animals , Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System/drug effects , Male , Metyrapone/pharmacology , Pituitary-Adrenal System/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors , Recurrence
11.
West Indian med. j ; West Indian med. j;62(3): 210-215, Mar. 2013. ilus, tab
Article in English | LILACS | ID: biblio-1045628

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to detect differentially expressed proteins in the nucleus accumbens between the states of extinction and reinstatement of morphine addiction. Numerous studies on the neurobiological mechanisms concerning drug craving and relapse have been reported to date, but data on their relationship with the underlying key molecular mechanisms involved remain limited. METHODS: In this study, 40 male SpragueDawley rats were equally randomized into a saline group and a morphine group. Both groups received drug selfadministration training, after which extinction models were established naturally. The groups were further divided into two subgroups for extinction and reinstatement tests. Cerebral nucleus accumbens masses were measured for total protein extraction. Twodimensional electrophoresis was performed to determine differential protein spots. These differential proteins were then enzymolysed and identified using mass spectrography. RESULTS: The proteins were classified as fatty acidbinding protein, serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit beta isoform, serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit alpha isoform, serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit B² subunit gamma or heat shock protein 90 cochaperone CDC37. CONCLUSION: Significant changes in five proteins were detected between extinction and reinstatement. These proteins are correlated with phosphorylation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle.


ANTECEDENTES: El objetivo de este estudio fue detectar las proteínas diferencialmente expresadas en el núcleo accumbens entre los estados de extinción y recaída de la adicción a la morfina. Hasta la fecha se han reportado numerosos estudios en relación con los mecanismos neurobiológicos del deseo incontenible y recaída en el consumo de drogas, pero los datos sobre su relación con los mecanismos moleculares fundamentales subyacentes implicados, siguen siendo limitados. MÉTODO: En este estudio, 40 ratas machos SpragueDawley fueron por igual asignadas de manera aleatoria a un grupo salino y un grupo de morfina. Ambos grupos recibieron entrenamiento de autoadministración de drogas, después de lo cual se establecieron modelos de extinción de manera natural. A su vez, los grupos fueron luego subdivididos en dos subgrupos para realizar pruebas de extinción y recaída. Se procedió a medir las masas cerebrales del núcleo accumbens para la extracción total de proteína. Se realizó una electroforesis bidimensional para determinar manchas proteicas diferenciales. Estas proteínas diferenciales fueron entonces sometidas a enzimólisis e identificadas mediante espectrografía de masa. RESULTADOS: Las proteínas fueron clasificadas como proteína de unión a ácidos grasos, isoforma beta de la subunidad catalítica serinatreonina proteína fosfatasa 2A, isoforma alfa de la subunidad catalítica serinatreonina proteína fosfatasa 2A, subunidad gamma subunidad B" de la serinatreonina proteína fosfatasa 2A, o la proteína CDC37 cochaperona 90 de choque térmico. CONCLUSIÓN: Se detectaron cambios significativos en cinco proteínas entre la extinción y la recaída. Estas proteínas están correlacionadas con la fosforilación y el ciclo del ácido tricarboxílico.


Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism , Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Extinction, Psychological/physiology , Protein Phosphatase 2/metabolism , Morphine Dependence/metabolism , Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism , Reinforcement, Psychology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Proteome
12.
Ter. psicol ; 28(1): 55-67, jul. 2010. ilus, tab
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-577541

ABSTRACT

En dos experimentos, estudiantes universitarios aprendieron una relación predictiva entre un evento y una consecuencia, la que posteriormente fue extinguida presentando el evento sin la consecuencia. En el Experimento 1, se presentó la consecuencia por sí sola después de la extinción, ocasionando la reaparición de la relación predictiva aprendida originalmente, asemejándose al fenómeno del condicionamiento Pavloviano conocido como "reinstalación". Este experimento demostró además, que no es necesario apelar a asociaciones inhibitorias para explicar la reinstalación, sino que solamente a asociaciones excitatorias entre el contexto y la consecuencia. El Experimento 2 confirmó la generalidad de estos hallazgos utilizando otro procedimiento de aprendizaje causal. Se discuten estos hallazgos en términos de las diferencias entre el aprendizaje causal y el condicionamiento Pavloviano y de la posible existencia de dos mecanismos alternativos de extinción: desaprendizaje para extinguir asociaciones no consolidadas e inhibición para las consolidadas.


In two experiments, undergraduates learned a predictive relationship between an event and a consequence, which was subsequently extinguished by presenting the event without the consequence. In Experiment 1, participants were exposed to the consequence by itself after extinction, occasioning the reappearance of the originally learned predictive relationship, resembling a phenomenon known as Reinstatement in the field of Pavlovian conditioning. This experiment further demonstrated that reinstatement can be explained without appealing to inhibitory associations, but only by mean of excitatory associations between the context and the consequence. Experiment 2 confirmed the generality of these findings using a different procedure of causal learning. The findings are discussed in terms of differences between Pavlovian conditioning and causal learning and of the possible existence of two mechanisms of extinction: unlearning to extinguish non consolidated associations and inhibition for the consolidated associations.


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Association Learning , Causality , Conditioning, Psychological , Extinction, Psychological , Mental Recall , Models, Psychological , Neuropsychological Tests
13.
Interdisciplinaria ; 25(1): 77-99, ene.-jul. 2008.
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-633437

ABSTRACT

El trabajo que se informa presenta una descripción y evaluación de un estudio de casos de reintegración familiar de tres jóvenes con discapacidad intelectual moderada pertenecientes a un hogar de menores, desarrollado durante tres años. La metodología utilizada estuvo centrada principalmente en el enfoque biográfico, con la técnica de relatos de vida. Además de presentar las características de sus familias, específicamente de sus madres, los resultados aportan antecedentes claves para poder potenciar el sistema de integración familiar actual que existe para la atención de niños, niñas y jóvenes con necesidades educativas especiales. De los tres casos, sólo uno concretó la reintegración familiar de la joven discapacitada, el segundo está en proceso de finalizar la integración y en el tercero, la madre desertó. Se observa que es compleja la integración en las familias de los menores que asisten a centros de protección. Como factores claves para el éxito de la intervención, se reconocen las redes de apoyo sociales y familiares, las estrategias individuales para revincularse con la hija y resignificar su discapacidad, el apoyo de la institución y el trabajo multidisciplinario. Finalmente se concluye a partir de estos casos, cuáles serían los aspectos esenciales que permiten realmente que los menores crezcan y vivan en familia como seres íntegros y plenos. Para ello se requiere contar con un plan de intervención y un seguimiento constante del proceso, en el que se trabaje no sólo con la madre o tutor principal del menor, sino que también se incorpore a toda la familia en el proceso.


The article presents a description and evaluation of a three year case study of three youngsters with moderate mental disability from a group home for minors. We used a biography approach, and a life story technique. Through this technique, the person articulates his or her past, present and future in an interview or an open interaction. Our goal was to understand and face the mothers' life experiences in order to create an intervention method based on their own reality and perspective. Apart from presenting the children's family characteristics, particularly that of their mothers, the results bring out key information that strengthen and promote the current system of family integration for children and youngsters with special educational needs. Out of the three cases, only one family achieved the reinstatement of their child with a disability; the second family is in the process of finishing the reinstatement, and in a third case, the mother abandoned the process. Based on these experiences, reinstating a child who was looked after by a child care and protection center back to his or her family, is a complex issue. The family plays a fundamental role in the process of bringing their child back into their homes, and is a key factor for a successful intervention. Families who have a support network, both at an individual and social level, have better possibilities of reinstating their child back into the family. Another important point to consider is individual strategies mothers use to renew the bond with their child, which are influenced by the stages they are going through regarding the adaptation process and acceptance of the disability. Other aspects that influence whether families abandon the reinstatement process or not are the type of disability, the cause of transfer to the care and protection center, the stage that each mother is going through regarding their child's disability linked to their vital cycle, the mothers' age and their constant denial in coping with disability and their maternal roles. The family reinstatement program is recognized as a good system which allows children with disabilities to achieve better growth and development with their families, while acknowledging at the same time, that adoption is practically nonexistent. This system requires constant interventions and follow-ups, not only with the tutor, but also including the whole family in the process. Moreover, multi-disciplinary work at home, in community institutions and in other social levels that bring support to the family's readjustment of their internal bonds and structure, should be considered key interventions. Strengthening parental figures helps parents change their perspective regarding their child's disability, and is crucial in accomplishing true social integration, as well as allowing children to grow and live in a family as wholesome and complete beings.

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