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GABAB Receptors and Alcohol Use Disorders: Clinical Studies

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Behavioral Neurobiology of GABAB Receptor Function

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences ((CTBN,volume 52))

Abstract

Harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorders (AUD) result in major health and community burden worldwide, yet treatment options are limited. Novel pharmacotherapies are urgently required, and treatments involving GABAB receptors have been used in treating alcohol-related disorders. This chapter will review the clinical evidence of GABAB pharmacotherapies, such as baclofen and γ-hydroxybutyric acid. This includes the use of these treatments in individuals experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms and outlining the outcomes of studies of alcohol relapse prevention relapse including case studies, comparative studies and randomised controlled trials. Laboratory research investigating biobehavioural effects of baclofen will also be summarised and polymorphisms associated with baclofen treatment, and safety concerns of GABAB treatments will be addressed. In summary, pharmacological treatments targeting GABAB receptors such as baclofen may be modestly effective in the management of alcohol use disorder, but safety concerns limit the widespread applicability of the currently available agents.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest.

Sources of Funding

PH is supported by NHMRC/MRFF Research Fellowship and KM is supported by NSW Translational Research Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Warren B. Logge, Kirsten C. Morley & Paul S. Haber

  2. Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Warren B. Logge & Paul S. Haber

Authors
  1. Warren B. Logge
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  2. Kirsten C. Morley
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  3. Paul S. Haber
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Correspondence to Warren B. Logge .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Styliani Vlachou

  2. Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Kevin Wickman

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Logge, W.B., Morley, K.C., Haber, P.S. (2020). GABAB Receptors and Alcohol Use Disorders: Clinical Studies. In: Vlachou, S., Wickman, K. (eds) Behavioral Neurobiology of GABAB Receptor Function. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences, vol 52. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2020_182

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