Pharmacology Category

How Adaptation of the Brain to Alcohol Leads to Dependence: A Pharmacological Perspective

3 CE Hours
1,150 members have taken this course

This course has been retired. We regularly update our course catalog to ensure relevance.

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About the Course

The development of alcohol dependence is posited to involve numerous changes in brain chemistry (i.e., neurotransmission) that lead to physiological signs of withdrawal upon abstinence from alcohol as well as promote vulnerability to relapse in dependent people. Studies of these neuroadaptive changes have been aided by the development of animal models of alcohol dependence, withdrawal, and relapse behavior. These animal models, as well as findings obtained in humans, have shed light on the effects that acute and chronic alcohol exposure have on signaling systems involving neurotransmitters as well as on other signaling molecules. Some of these systems are targets of currently available therapeutic agents for alcohol dependence. This publication discusses this field of study.

This course is based on the reading online article, How Adaptation of the Brain to Alcohol Leads to Dependence: A Pharmacological Perspective created by Peter Clapp, Ph.D.; Sanjiv V. Bhave, Ph.D.; and Paula L. Hoffman, Ph.D. in 2008.

Publication Details

Journal/Publisher: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Publication Date: Alcohol Research and Health, Volume 21, Number 4, 2008

Course Material Author

Peter Clapp, Ph.D.; Sanjiv V. Bhave, Ph.D.; and Paula L. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Peter Clapp, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow, Sanjiv V. Bhave, Ph.D., is a senior instructor, and Paula L. Hoffman, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.

Peter Clapp, Ph.D.; Sanjiv V. Bhave, Ph.D.; and Paula L. Hoffman, Ph.D. authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Target Audience

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially addiction counselors, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about how adaptation of the brain to alcohol leads to dependence. It is appropriate for intermediate to advanced levels of participants' knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this course, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Discuss the relationship of glutamate systems to alcohol dependence and the involvement of other brain-signaling systems such as serotonin, endogenous cannabinoids, and CREB protein.
  2. 2 Describe animal models used to study neuroadaptation, and discuss signal transmission in the nervous system.
  3. 3 Explain the relationship of alcohol dependence to the opiate systems, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) systems, stress, and corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF).

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

Any relevant financial disclosures for course material authors can be found in the article.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

$27

Course Details

3 CE Hours
Reading Online
Course 101620

Availability

This course is retired. It is no longer available.

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