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AuteurD.M. van Es
TitelAlcohol abuse in adolescence and its relation with depression and anhedonia in adulthood through mediation of the mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
BegeleiderJ. Snel
Jaar2011
FaculteitFaculteit der Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen
Instituut/afd.FMG: Afdeling Psychologie
SamenvattingIn this thesis, the relation between alcohol abuse in adolescence and the development of anhedonic or even depressive symptoms in later life is assessed. First of all, the effects of alcohol abuse on the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) pathway are assessed and compared for differences in effects as a cause of exposure in adolescence vs. adulthood. Subsequently, the connection between the mesolimbic DA pathway and depression/anhedonia is investigated. Results show that chronic alcohol abuse has long‐lasting effects on the mesolimbic DA pathway, altering basal levels of DA, DA reuptake rates and DA release after a subsequent alcohol challenge. Although the exact effects remain inconsistent through greatly varying research methods, it is clear that significant alterations of the mesolimbic DA pathway occur after chronic intermittent alcohol exposure. Additionally, these changes appear to be different when chronic alcohol exposure is administered in adulthood vs. adolescence. Also, dysregulation of the mesolimbic DA pathway appears to play a role in Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) patients and healthy subjects with anhedonic symptoms. These results therefore suggest that chronic alcohol abuse in adolescence and occurrence of MDD and anhedonia in later life could be related. However, this link remains highly speculative and future research to investigate this novel suggestion is required.
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