Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Guardia, J. Articles by Casas, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Guardia, J. Articles by Casas, M. Alcohol SPECT

Striatal Dopaminergic D₂ Receptor Density Measured by [¹²³I]Iodobenzamide SPECT in the Prediction of Treatment Outcome of Alcohol-Dependent Patients

OBJECTIVE: The authors’ goal was to study striatal dopaminergic dopamine 2 (D₂) receptors as a biological marker of early relapse in detoxified alcoholic patients by using [¹²³I]iodobenzamide ([123I]IBZM) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHOD: The authors performed [¹²³I]IBZM SPECT on 21 alcohol-dependent inpatients during detoxification and on nine healthy volunteers, using the ratios of basal ganglia to occipital lobes for SPECT quantification. Depending on treatment outcome 3 months after hospital discharge, patients were determined to be relapsers or nonrelapsers. RESULTS: Alcohol-dependent subjects with early relapse (within 3 months after hospital discharge) showed a higher uptake of [¹²³I]IBZM in the basal ganglia during detoxification (mean ratio=1.83, SD=0.9) than patients who did not have early relapse (mean ratio=1.69, SD=0.11). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that low levels of dopamine, or an increased density of free striatal dopaminergic D₂ receptors, could be related to early relapse in alcohol-dependent patients. Therefore, [¹²³I]IBZM SPECT could become a biological marker of vulnerability to relapse for alcoholic patients in recovery.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Lucht, K. U. Kuehn, J. Armbruster, G. Abraham, M. Gaensicke, S. Barnow, H. Tretzel, and H. J. Freyberger ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL TREATMENT IN INTOXICATED VS NON-INTOXICATED PATIENTS: A CONTROLLED OPEN-LABEL STUDY WITH TIAPRIDE/CARBAMAZEPINE, CLOMETHIAZOLE AND DIAZEPAM Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2003; 38(2): 168 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A R Lingford-Hughes, S J C Davies, S McIver, T M Williams, M R C Daglish, and D J Nutt Addiction: Imaging in clinical neuroscience Br. Med. Bull., March 1, 2003; 65(1): 209 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Tomkins and E. M. Sellers Addiction and the brain: the role of neurotransmitters in the cause and treatment of drug dependence Can. Med. Assoc. J., March 1, 2001; 164(6): 817 - 821. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2000 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us