Pharmacologically induced alcohol craving in detoxified alcoholics

渴望是复发过程中的一个关键因素；因此，渴望是一个重要的替代标记物，可以用来评估药物治疗酒精依赖患者的潜在疗效。众所周知，渴望可以在实验刺激的反应下被诱导，这些刺激试图模仿真实世界中的复发触发因素，例如实验应激源或与酒精相关的线索。在这项研究中，我们将静脉注射α2-肾上腺素能拮抗剂(育亨宾)，它能可靠地诱导实验动物恢复酒精寻求行为，一种5-羟色胺能化合物(MCPP)，它能有力地增加人类酗酒者的酒精渴望，以及安慰剂。本研究的目的是临床评价氨基己酸酯在改变输注育亨宾、mCPP和安慰剂引起的渴求反应方面的有效性。

Craving is a key element in the relapse process; therefore, craving is an important surrogate marker that can be used to evaluate the potential effectiveness of medications to treat alcohol dependent patients. It is well established that cravings can be induced in response to experimental stimuli that attempt to mimic real-world relapse triggers, such as experimental stressors or alcohol-associated cues. In this study we will intravenously administer an alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist (Yohimbine) which reliably induces reinstatement of alcohol seeking behavior in experimental animals, a serotonergic compound (mCPP) which robustly increases alcohol craving in human alcoholics, and placebo. The objective of the study is to clinically evaluate the effectiveness of acamprosate in altering the craving response induced by the infusions of Yohimbine, mCPP, and placebo.