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The Affective Properties of Synthetic Cathinones: Role of Reward and Aversion in Their Abuse

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Neuropharmacology of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS)

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 32))

Abstract

The drug class known as synthetic cathinones has gained significant attention in the last few years as a result of increased use and abuse. These compounds have been shown to possess reinforcing efficacy in that they are abused in human populations and are self-administered in animal models. The present chapter outlines the affective properties of synthetic cathinones that are thought to impact drug self-administration in general and presents research confirming that these drugs have both rewarding and aversive effects in standalone and concurrent assessments. The implications of these affective properties for the overall abuse potential of these compounds are discussed along with directions for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA

    Heather E. King & Anthony L. Riley

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  1. Heather E. King
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  2. Anthony L. Riley
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Correspondence to Heather E. King .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Michael H. Baumann

  2. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Richard A. Glennon

  3. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Jenny L. Wiley

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King, H.E., Riley, A.L. (2016). The Affective Properties of Synthetic Cathinones: Role of Reward and Aversion in Their Abuse. In: Baumann, M.H., Glennon, R.A., Wiley, J.L. (eds) Neuropharmacology of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2016_32

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