Psychopharmacology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Abnormal modulation of reward versus punishment learning by a dopamine D2-receptor antagonist in pathological gamblers.
Pathological gambling has been associated with dopamine transmission abnormalities, in particular dopamine D2-receptor deficiency, and reversal learning deficits. Moreover, pervasive theoretical accounts suggest a key role for dopamine in reversal learning. However, there is no empirical evidence for a direct link between dopamine, reversal learning and pathological gambling. ⋯ These data demonstrate that pathological gambling is associated with a dopamine-related anomaly in reversal learning from reward and punishment.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A randomized, double-blind, duloxetine-referenced study comparing efficacy and tolerability of 2 fixed doses of vortioxetine in the acute treatment of adults with MDD.
Vortioxetine has reduced depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) in multiple clinical trials. ⋯ ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01153009; www.clinicaltrials.gov/ .
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Does mutual compensation of the cognitive effects induced by pain and opioids exist? An experimental study.
Studies have demonstrated that both pain and opioids have actions on the central nervous system that may interfere with cognitive function, but their effects have mainly been analysed separately and not as an integrated process. ⋯ Pain and remifentanil seemed to have additive deleterious cognitive effects. This study represents an initial step to enhance our basic understanding of some of the cognitive effects following a painful stimulus and an opioid infusion separately and combined in a sequence comparable to clinical settings.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Can Valeriana officinalis root extract prevent early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after CABG surgery? A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
We hypothesized that valerian root might prevent cognitive dysfunction in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients through stimulating serotonin receptors and anti-inflammatory activity. ⋯ We concluded that, based on this study, the cognitive state of patients in the valerian group was better than that in the placebo group after CABG; therefore, it seems that the use of V. officinalis root extract may prevent early postoperative cognitive dysfunction after on-pump CABG surgery.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Methylnaltrexone: its pharmacological effects alone and effects on morphine in healthy volunteers.
Methylnaltrexone bromide (MTNX) is a peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, prescribed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with advanced illness who are receiving palliative care. Studies have used this drug to determine if other opioid-induced effects besides constipation are altered by MTNX in humans and have suggested, based on their results, that these other effects are altered by peripheral opioid actions. ⋯ We present indirect evidence that MTNX crosses the blood-brain barrier in humans. Therefore, whether the reductions in subjective effects of morphine by MTNX that were observed in past studies and in this study can be attributed to peripheral mechanisms is open to question.