ALTERATION OF BRAIN DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN LEVELS IN COCAINE USERS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that cocaine depletes dopa mine levels in the brain. Method: Levels of dopamine, serotonin, and t heir metabolites in the frontal cortex and striatum of nine cocaine us ers and nine matched control subjects who had never used cocaine were determined from postmortem autopsy material. Results: The cocaine user s had significantly lower dopamine levels and higher serotonin levels in the frontal cortex than the control subjects. Levels in other brain areas did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Alterations of dopamine and serotonin levels might contribute to symptoms of coca ine withdrawal and craving.