Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology最新文献

E-cigarette use is prevalent among young adults, with "ice" e-cigarettes/liquids that combine sweet and cooling flavors becoming increasingly popular. This study examines if an "ice" component (e.g., menthol) alters liking, sensory experiences, and reward of sweet-flavored nicotine e-liquids among young adults. A double-blinded laboratory session was conducted with past-month e-cigarette users aged 18-20 (N = 40). Participants were exposed in random order to a sweet-flavored (watermelon) e-liquid with and without menthol in two 10-puff bouts. Both e-liquids contained 36 mg/ml nicotine salt and 50:50 propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin. Participants rated flavor liking and overall vaping experience using the Labeled Hedonic Scale, sensory effects using generalized Labeled Magnitude Scales, and reward effects using the Drug Effects Questionnaire. Linear mixed models analyzed outcomes with flavor condition, sex, and their interaction as fixed effects, adjusting for flavor order. Participants (average age = 19.1 years, SD = 0.8; 52.5% female and 67.5% White) used e-cigarettes on average 6.2 (SD = 1.5) days/week. Participants reported marginally less liking of the overall vaping experience for the watermelon flavor with menthol (M = -3.92 [SE = 3.16]) compared to the watermelon flavor without menthol (M = 1.27 [SE = 3.16], p = .05). No main effects of flavor, sex, or their interactions were observed in sensory and reward effects (ps > .05). Among our sample of young adult e-cigarette users, adding a cooling component to a sweet-flavored e-liquid did not result in altered liking, sensory, or reward effects compared to sweet-flavored e-liquid without cooling. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Cannabis is increasingly used for managing chronic pain, despite the low quality and inconsistency of most evidence from randomized controlled trials and the divergent expert opinions and guidelines issued by academic societies. In this perspective piece, we suggest a way forward. The clinical trials have focused on traditional chronic pain outcomes (such as pain severity and interference, as well as physical and emotional functioning). However, qualitative studies suggest that many individuals perceive cannabis as beneficial not because it directly reduces pain but because it alters their psychological responses to it and improves other important outcomes, such as role and social functioning, sleep quality, and opioid substitution, which are largely overlooked in clinical trials of cannabis for chronic pain. We contend that the true clinical potential and limitations of cannabis for pain management may be fundamentally misunderstood if research continues to prioritize conventional chronic pain outcomes alone. We call for the integration of perspectives from people with lived experience in identifying meaningful clinical outcomes for future clinical trials on cannabis and chronic pain. Such a shift would clarify cannabis's true benefits and limitations, ultimately guiding more nuanced, evidence-based, and personalized treatment approaches for chronic pain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a psychoactive botanical native to Southeast Asia increasingly used in the United States for various self-reported benefits, including sleep improvement. However, empirical evidence concerning kratom's effects on sleep is limited. Here, we examined the association between bedtime kratom use and self-reported sleep outcomes in naturalistic settings across consecutive days, while also exploring sex and chronic pain status as potential moderators. A secondary analysis was conducted using the data from a 15-day ecological momentary assessment study of 357 U.S. adults who reported regularly using kratom. Participants made daily reports of their bedtime kratom use and rated their sleep duration and quality. Linear mixed-effects models assessed associations between bedtime kratom use and sleep outcomes, with sex and chronic pain status as moderators, controlling for age. Bedtime kratom use occurred on 23.4% of days and was associated with modest increases in sleep duration (13 min) and perceived quality (5.93-point increase on a 0-100 scale). Female respondents reported greater improvements in sleep quality (but not duration) than male respondents. Participants with chronic pain reported greater improvements in sleep duration and quality compared to those without chronic pain. Bedtime kratom use is associated with modest sleep duration and quality improvements, particularly in adults with chronic pain, and better sleep quality in female respondents. These findings among experienced kratom consumers suggest the need for human laboratory studies in kratom-naïve participants to determine causality and underlying mechanisms, which could help inform clinical guidance and policy as kratom use continues to rise. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Nearly 2 million people had a diagnosis of methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in 2023 and overdose deaths involving psychostimulants are increasing. Given that there are no currently approved U.S. Food and Drug Administration medications for MUD, novel treatments are needed to complement standard of care behavioral treatments. Neuromodulation using transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has the capacity to noninvasively and precisely target subcortical structures, such as the nucleus accumbens, a structure integral to the reward neurocircuitry. Previous findings in individuals with opioid use disorder have demonstrated the potential of FUS in reducing substance craving and use; however, to date, no study has examined the effects of FUS for primary MUD. The objective of the current case study was to evaluate the safety and impact of nucleus accumbens FUS on methamphetamine craving (via a cue-induced craving paradigm) and use (via urine toxicology and self-report) in a man in his mid-20s with primary MUD. The participant received a 20-min session of low-intensity FUS (220 kHz) neuromodulation and completed follow-up visits 1-, 7-, 30-, 60-, and 90-days postprocedure. Results demonstrated that the FUS procedure was safe and well-tolerated. Cue induced craving acutely reduced during the procedure with sustained complete suppression throughout the 90-day follow-up (baseline craving rating was nine out of 10 [where 10 represents maximum craving]; craving at follow-up visits were consistently zero out of 10). Methamphetamine negative urine toxicology was observed during all follow-up visits, contrasting his pre-FUS use patterns of multiple episodes of use per week. While promising, larger, sham-controlled, randomized studies are warranted to determine the potential of FUS for MUD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Naloxone administration can precipitate opioid withdrawal, concerns about which may result in hesitancy to use this life-saving intervention. Preclinical and clinical research suggests that cannabinoids may reduce the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal. This proof-of-concept study sought to test the effects of vaporized cannabis pretreatment (T^-15 min) on naloxone-precipitated (T0-T⁺50) withdrawal using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS, range = 0-48) as the primary dependent measure. Evaluating the safety of this drug combination was the secondary aim, assessed using vital signs. Before a major methodological redesign, a single participant (male, 52) with opioid use disorder completed testing. The ∼4-week inpatient study began with stabilization on oral morphine (120 mg/day). During testing, the following dose combinations of vaped cannabis (V-CB) and intranasal naloxone (IN-NLX) were tested: (a) IN-NLX 0.0 mg + V-CB 25.0 mg, (b) IN-NLX 4.0 mg + V-CB 0.0 mg, (c) IN-NLX 0.0 mg + V-CB 12.5 mg, (d) IN-NLX 4.0 mg + V-CB 12.5 mg, (e) IN-NLX 0.0 mg + V-CB 0.0 mg, and (f) IN-NLX 4.0 mg + V-CB 25.0 mg. Naloxone alone resulted in a COWS score of 22 at T+30. CB pretreatment (12.5 mg and 25.0 mg) reduced COWS scores at T+30 to 17 and 14, respectively. Active NLX and V-CB administered in combination resulted in elevated heart rate and blood pressure, though not to a greater extent than NLX alone. This study found that the addition of a cannabinoid reduced the severity of NLX-precipitated withdrawal and supported the continued investigation into combined NLX + cannabinoid formulations as overdose reversal agents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Impulsivity and individual differences in alcohol sensitivity (e.g., subjective response to alcohol) have been related to alcohol use behaviors, but scant research has examined how these two constructs are related to each other. Consequently, this pilot study aimed (1) to examine associations between impulsivity domains (impulsive action, impulsive choice, and impulsive personality features) and alcohol sensitivity during alcohol administration in the laboratory; (2) to test daily associations between impulsivity domains and sensitivity to reward during ecological momentary assessment (EMA); and (3) to explore consistency between alcohol sensitivity scores in the lab and EMA. Participants (N = 26; 38.5% male, 61.5% female) were students (graduate and undergraduate) who engaged in recent (past-month) alcohol use and heavy drinking in the past 6 months. Participants completed an in-person alcohol administration session followed by 10 days of EMA. For Aim 1, results indicated that individuals with a greater lack of perseverance reported greater cravings and willingness to drive during the alcohol administration session. Negative and positive urgency were positively associated with liking the alcoholic beverage. For Aim 2, within-person associations revealed that greater than usual lack of premeditation was associated with greater craving while drinking, and greater than usual lack of perseverance was related to less willingness to drive. For Aim 3, subjective effects for liking, craving, and stimulation scores were greater during the EMA portion as compared to the laboratory session. Our findings suggested that individual differences in some impulsive personality features played a role in the motivation to consume alcohol in the laboratory and real world. Future research should replicate these pilot findings and expand on contextual factors that may be driving the present study's associations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of sertraline in pediatric patients diagnosed with depression, focusing on its impact on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), serotonin (5-HT), and inflammatory cytokines. A total of 164 pediatric patients were randomly divided into two groups: the sertraline and control groups, with 82 participants in each. Depressive symptoms were evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) and the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R). Serum concentrations of BDNF, 5-HT, and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were quantified using ELISA. Results demonstrated no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. After 4 weeks, both groups showed reductions in HAMD-17 and CDRS-R scores and interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, as well as increases in BDNF and 5-HT levels. Notably, at the 2-week mark, the sertraline group had significantly lower scores in both depression scales and inflammatory cytokines compared to the control group (fluoxetine treatment), indicating an early onset of action. Despite these findings, by 4 weeks, differences in HAMD-17 and CDRS-R scores, BDNF, and 5-HT levels between the two groups were no longer significant, although the sertraline group maintained lower levels of inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, the sertraline group reported higher rates of early improvement and adverse events, though no significant differences in remission or response rates were found between the groups. Overall, sertraline demonstrates effectiveness in alleviating depressive symptoms in children during the initial treatment period, potentially via mechanisms involving BDNF, 5-HT, and inflammation modulation, although it presents a less favorable safety profile compared to fluoxetine. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Substance use disorders (SUDs) can be explained in part by the availability and amount of alternative substance-free reinforcers, which are recognized as the main target in treatment of SUDs. Most questionnaires examining this area assess activities in teens or young adults from the general population and, have not been assessed in the context of treatment of SUDs, and do not address the wide range that is needed in order to plan recreational activities that are incompatible with substance use in clinical contexts, as well as to identify activities that could pose a risk for relapse. This study aimed to develop a new instrument (i.e., the Oviedo Leisure Activities Scale; OLAS-70) to measure substance-free and substance-related reinforcement. It also sought to provide validity evidence based on the relationship with the European Addiction Severity Index, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Reward Probability Index. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 542 adults (M_age = 38.71, SD = 10.66) undergoing inpatient or outpatient interventions for SUDs. Participants completed the European Addiction Severity Index, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Reward Probability Index, and the OLAS-70 within a month of starting treatment. The OLAS-70 demonstrated validity evidence in relation to addiction severity, depression, and probability of environmental reward. Participants with drug use problems according to the European Addiction Severity Index exhibited higher proportion of substance-related reinforcement ratio due to engaging in activities while under the influence of substances, including sports, hobbies, and artistic activities. The OLAS-70 is valid for measuring both substance-free and substance-related reinforcement and provides clinically useful information for treatment planning, identifying high-risk situations for substance use relapse, and scheduling reinforcing, positive activities during interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Despite robust evidence, there is a low uptake of incentive-based contingency management (CM) for substance use treatment due to provider worries about client perceptions of CM and high implementation costs. Research has attempted to address these concerns to facilitate the dissemination of CM for adult substance use. However, little research has explored these barriers to disseminating CM for adolescents. The present study assessed the degree to which parents (those most likely to be payors of adolescent treatment) held positive and negative views of incentives for substance use treatment, preferred fixed- versus variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement and immediate versus delayed receipt of reinforcers, and were willing to pay for incentive-based treatment. One hundred twenty-three parents of adolescents currently using substances (N = 123) were recruited via Facebook to participate in a survey study. While results show parents endorsed some objections, parents overwhelmingly endorsed positive views about incentives for adolescent substance use treatment and indicated a willingness to pay out-of-pocket costs. Also, parents endorsed incentives with fixed amounts over variable amounts. Finally, parent age was significantly associated with the likelihood of accepting incentives, and perception of incentives was significantly associated with the likelihood of agreeing to engage and willingness to pay for incentive-based treatment. This study showed parents largely accept the idea of incentives for substance use treatment and support exploring a self-pay model to increase the dissemination of CM. Research is needed to examine perceptions of incentives for substance use treatment among adolescents themselves and explore novel ways of integrating voucher- and prize-based procedures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Knowledge regarding in-the-moment antecedents of cannabis use is lacking. We examined internal (e.g., mood, cravings) and external (e.g., locations, people) antecedents of cannabis use among young adults regularly using both cannabis and tobacco. Over 30 days, 36 young adults (M_age = 24.2 years, 33% female, 8% nonbinary, 61% sexual minority, 44% Non-Hispanic White) completed multiple daily Ecological Momentary Assessment surveys, totaling 1,632 prompts. Generalized estimating equations estimated population-averaged relationships between the presence of antecedents and cannabis use outcomes (use vs. nonuse). Overall cannabis use was likelier at neutral ranges of affect (aOR = 0.95; 95% CI [0.91, 1.00]) and affective arousal (aOR = 1.52; 95% CI [0.91, 1.00], see Footnote 1), higher cannabis craving (aOR = 1.52; 95% CI [1.31, 1.76]), and substance intoxication (aOR = 1.25; 95% CI [1.01, 1.55]). Overall use was likelier at home (aOR = 1.97; 95% CI [1.16, 3.37]), and less likely in a place where cannabis smoking was forbidden (aOR = 0.46; 95% CI [0.25, 0.85]) or more people were present (aOR = 0.91; 95% CI [0.87, 0.96]). Other antecedents of use were seeing cannabis product packaging (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI [1.07, 3.39]) and experiencing racial/ethnic-based discrimination (aOR = 2.26; 95% CI [1.39, 3.69]). Future digital interventions for cannabis use will benefit from (a) testing real-time interactions between internal and external antecedents and (b) triggering interventions while users are at home alone, after discrimination experiences, and/or when feeling mild, neutral affect. Note: CIs containing 1.00 interpreted as statistically significant are due to having rounded up to the upper limit. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).