V. Modesto-lowe et Hr. Kranzler, Using cue reactivity to evaluate medications for treatment of cocaine dependence: a critical review, ADDICTION, 94(11), 1999, pp. 1639-1651
Citations number
68
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science","Clinical Psycology & Psychiatry
Aims. The aim of this article is to examine the validity of a cue-reactivit
y paradigm for evaluating medications to treat cocaine dependence and to cr
itically review cocaine pharmacotherapy studies that use this method Method
s. A Medline computerized search was performed to identify randomized contr
olled medication studies for cocaine dependence that employed a cue-reactiv
ity paradigm. Relevant bibliographies of these articles were also reviewed.
Eleven placebo-controlled studies were identified in the English language
literature. Four of these studies used agents that block dopaminergic neuro
transmission, two studies used agents that modify the serotonergic system,
and two studies used nicotinergic agents. The other three studies employed
a mood stabilizer, an opioid antagonist or a psychostimulant. Results. Ther
e has been little research examining the theoretical basis of the cue-react
ivity model, as applied to the screening of medications to treat cocaine de
pendence. From a methodological viewpoint, most studies have shown that exp
osure to cocaine-related stimuli increases subjective and physiological rea
ctivity in cocaine-dependent patients, but methods used to present the cues
and to measure cue reactivity have not been consistent across studies. Sim
ilarly, the observed increase in subjective and physiological reactivity to
cocaine cues has varied within and across studies. Conclusions, If a cocai
ne cue-reactivity paradigm is to be used to evaluate medications for treatm
ent of cocaine dependence, the validity of the model must first be demonstr
ated and a consistent methodology far cue presentation and measurement of r
esponses must be developed.