@article{SeboldSpittaGleichetal.2019,
  author    = {Sebold, Miriam Hannah and Spitta, G. and Gleich, T. and Dembler-Stamm, T. and Butler, Oisin and Zacharias, Kristin and Aydin, S. and Garbusow, Maria and Rapp, Michael Armin and Schubert, Florian and Buchert, Ralph and Gallinat, J{\"u}rgen and Heinz, A.},
  title     = {Stressful life events are associated with striatal dopamine receptor availability in alcohol dependence},
  series = {Journal of neural transmission},
  volume    = {126},
  journal   = {Journal of neural transmission},
  number    = {9},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Wien},
  issn      = {0300-9564},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00702-019-01985-2},
  pages     = {1127 -- 1134},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Stress plays a key role in modulating addictive behavior and can cause relapse following periods of abstinence. Common effects of stress and alcohol on the dopaminergic system have been suggested, although the precise mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated 20 detoxified alcohol-dependent patients and 19 matched healthy controls and assessed striatal D2/D3 availability using [F-18]-fallypride positron emission tomography and stressful life events. We found a strong association between striatal D2/D3 availability and stress in patients, but not in healthy controls. Interestingly, we found increased D2/D3 receptor availability in patients with higher stress levels. This mirrors complex interactions between stress and alcohol intake in animal studies and emphasizes the importance to investigate stress exposure in neurobiological studies of addiction.},
  language  = {en}
}