Full access
News
Published Online: 2 January 2014

Abnormalities Found in Brain Area of Cocaine Addicts

Vabren WattsAuthors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatrics News
Volume 49, Number 1
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2013.12b3w1

Journal Digest

New research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reveals that chronic cocaine addiction may be associated with deficits in parts of the brain involved in overseeing one’s behavior.
The research involved 53 individuals living with or without cocaine use disorder. The participants were evaluated on their perception of their drug-related issues and later underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
MRI scans of addicted individuals who lacked self-awareness of their substance use behaviors showed structural abnormalities in gray-matter integrity in the anterior cingulate cortex—the part of the brain that controls recognition of and response to mistakes. The researchers noted that the deficits were prominent in this group but not in a group of other cocaine-addicted individuals whose self-awareness was intact.
Scott Moeller, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry, pointed out that the findings could have important clinical implications. “Once at the clinic, additional intervention for these individuals could include mindfulness therapies to cultivate self-awareness of substance use triggers and consequences.”
Moeller and colleagues hope to further their studies by investigating how self-awareness relates to drug treatment outcomes. ■
Moeller S, Konova A, Parvaz M, et al. “Functional, Structural, and Emotional Correlates of Impaired Insight in Cocaine Addiction.” 2013. JAMA Psychiatry. 2013 Nov 20 http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1780022

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatrics News
Volume 49 • Number 1 • December 21, 2013 – January 3, 2014
Pages: 1

History

Published online: 2 January 2014
Published in print: December 21, 2013 – January 3, 2014

Keywords

  1. Icahn School of Medicine
  2. anterior cingulate cortex
  3. Scott Moeller, Ph.D.
  4. cocaine

Authors

Affiliations

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.