Biobehavioral Studies of Narcotics Abuse (K05)
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center-McLean Hospital
Jack H. Mendelson, M.D.
The research supported by this Research Scientist Award (K05) is concerned with assessment of the safety and effectiveness of new medications for the treatment of substance abuse including cocaine and opiate abuse. New medications are evaluated in Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical investigations. Treatment medications will be evaluated in men and women during residence on a dedicated clinical research ward. Women will be studied during two phases of the menstrual cycle (mid-follicular and mid-luteal) to determine if hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle influence the effects of treatment medications. Subjective effects of drug induced euphoria/dysphoria and drug craving will be examined with standard computerized measures before and after challenge dose administration. Medication and abused drug effects on neuroendocrine and neuroimmune function will be evaluated to provide another index of medication safety, and to identify possible biologic mechanisms of medication action. Medication and placebo effects on the pharmacokinetics of cocaine and cocaethylene will be examined. Medication effects will also be evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).
Key words: substance abuse, medications development, endocrinology, brain imaging
Grant Support: NIDA DA00064
Project Site: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Center, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478
Project Director: Jack H. Mendelson, M.D.
Contact Person: Rita Head, Administrative Assistant. Telephone (617) 855-2716. FAX: (617) 855-2519
Representative Publications:
Mendelson, J.H. and Mello, N.K.: Drug therapy: Management of cocaine abuse and dependence. N. Engl. J. Med. 334:965-972, 1996.
Mendelson, J.H. and Mello, N.K.: Cocaine and other commonly abused drugs. In: Isselbacher, K.J., Braunwald, E., Wilson, J.D., Martin, J.B., Fauci, A.S. and Kasper, D.L. (eds.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994, pp. 2429-2433.
Mendelson, J.H. and Mello, N.K.: Cocaine and other commonly abused drugs. In: Fauci, A.S., Braunwald, E., Isselbacher, K.J., Wilson, J.D., Martin, J.B., Kasper, D.L., Hauser, S.L. and Longo, D.L. (eds.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1998, pp. 2512-2516.
Mendelson, J.H. and Mello, N.K.: Cocaine and Other Commonly Abused Drugs. In: Braunwald, E., Fauci, A.S., Kasper, D.L., Hauser, S.L., Longo, D.L., Jameson J.L. (eds.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 15th Edition, New York: The McGraw-Hill Co. 2001. pp. 2570-2574.
Mello, N.K. and Mendelson, J.H.: Cocaine, Hormones and Behavior. In: Pfaff, D.W., Markovac, J., Arnold, A.P., Etgen, A.M., Fahrbach, S.E. Rubin, R.T. (eds.) Hormones Brain and Behavior, San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 2002 (in press).