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 Sekine, Y. Articles by Mori, N. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Sekine, Y. Articles by Mori, N. Neurotransmitters Amphetamines PET

Methamphetamine-Related Psychiatric Symptoms and Reduced Brain Dopamine Transporters Studied With PET

OBJECTIVE: A positron emission tomography (PET) study has suggested that dopamine transporter density of the caudate/putamen is reduced in methamphetamine users. The authors measured nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex density, in addition to caudate/putamen density, in methamphetamine users and assessed the relation of these measures to the subjects’ clinical characteristics. METHOD: PET and 2-ß-carbomethoxy-3ß-(4-[¹¹C] fluorophenyl)tropane, a dopamine transporter ligand, were used to measure dopamine transporter density in 11 male methamphetamine users and nine male comparison subjects who did not use methamphetamine. Psychiatric symptoms in methamphetamine users were evaluated by using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and applying a craving score. RESULTS: The dopamine transporter density in all three of the regions observed was significantly lower in the methamphetamine users than the comparison subjects. The severity of psychiatric symptoms was significantly correlated with the duration of methamphetamine use. The dopamine transporter reduction in the caudate/putamen and nucleus accumbens was significantly associated with the duration of methamphetamine use and closely related to the severity of persistent psychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that longer use of methamphetamine may cause more severe psychiatric symptoms and greater reduction of dopamine transporter density in the brain. They also show that the dopamine transporter reduction may be long-lasting, even if methamphetamine use ceases. Further, persistent psychiatric symptoms in methamphetamine users, including psychotic symptoms, may be attributable to the reduction of dopamine transporter density.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Sekine, Y. Ouchi, G. Sugihara, N. Takei, E. Yoshikawa, K. Nakamura, Y. Iwata, K. J. Tsuchiya, S. Suda, K. Suzuki, et al. Methamphetamine Causes Microglial Activation in the Brains of Human Abusers J. Neurosci., May 28, 2008; 28(22): 5756 - 5761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Matsuzawa, K. Hashimoto, R. Miyatake, Y. Shirayama, E. Shimizu, K. Maeda, Y. Suzuki, Y. Mashimo, Y. Sekine, T. Inada, et al. Identification of Functional Polymorphisms in the Promoter Region of the Human PICK1 Gene and Their Association With Methamphetamine Psychosis Am J Psychiatry, July 1, 2007; 164(7): 1105 - 1114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Yuan, G. Hatzidimitriou, P. Suthar, M. Mueller, U. McCann, and G. Ricaurte Relationship between Temperature, Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity, and Plasma Drug Concentrations in Methamphetamine-Treated Squirrel Monkeys J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., March 1, 2006; 316(3): 1210 - 1218. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Sekine, Y. Ouchi, N. Takei, E. Yoshikawa, K. Nakamura, M. Futatsubashi, H. Okada, Y. Minabe, K. Suzuki, Y. Iwata, et al. Brain Serotonin Transporter Density and Aggression in Abstinent Methamphetamine Abusers Arch Gen Psychiatry, January 1, 2006; 63(1): 90 - 100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Mohr, P. S. Sandor, T. Landis, M. Fathi, and P. Brugger Blinking and schizotypal thinking J Psychopharmacol, September 1, 2005; 19(5): 513 - 520. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. L. Jernigan, A. C. Gamst, S. L. Archibald, C. Fennema-Notestine, M. R. Mindt, T. L. Marcotte, R. K. Heaton, R. J. Ellis, and I. Grant Effects of Methamphetamine Dependence and HIV Infection on Cerebral Morphology Am J Psychiatry, August 1, 2005; 162(8): 1461 - 1472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Thompson, K. M. Hayashi, S. L. Simon, J. A. Geaga, M. S. Hong, Y. Sui, J. Y. Lee, A. W. Toga, W. Ling, and E. D. London Structural Abnormalities in the Brains of Human Subjects Who Use Methamphetamine J. Neurosci., June 30, 2004; 24(26): 6028 - 6036. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Nakajima, K. Yamada, T. Nagai, T. Uchiyama, Y. Miyamoto, T. Mamiya, J. He, A. Nitta, M. Mizuno, M. H. Tran, et al. Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor-{alpha} in Methamphetamine-Induced Drug Dependence and Neurotoxicity J. Neurosci., March 3, 2004; 24(9): 2212 - 2225. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. JAYANTHI, X. DENG, P.-A. H. NOAILLES, B. LADENHEIM, and J. L. CADET Methamphetamine induces neuronal apoptosis via cross-talks between endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria-dependent death cascades FASEB J, February 1, 2004; 18(2): 238 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Sekine, Y. Minabe, Y. Ouchi, N. Takei, M. Iyo, K. Nakamura, K. Suzuki, H. Tsukada, H. Okada, E. Yoshikawa, et al. Association of Dopamine Transporter Loss in the Orbitofrontal and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortices With Methamphetamine-Related Psychiatric Symptoms Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2003; 160(9): 1699 - 1701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Nordahl, R. Salo, and M. Leamon Neuropsychological Effects of Chronic Methamphetamine Use on Neurotransmitters and Cognition: A Review J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, August 1, 2003; 15(3): 317 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Mohr, H. S. Bracha, and P. Brugger Magical Ideation Modulates Spatial Behavior J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, May 1, 2003; 15(2): 168 - 174. [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]

				Long-Term Impairment of Dopamine Transporters by Methamphetamines Journal Watch Psychiatry, August 22, 2001; 2001(822): 8 - 8. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2001 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

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