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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Mar;44(4):660-667.
doi: 10.1038/s41386-018-0191-9. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Effects of sedative drug use on the dopamine system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo neuroimaging studies

Felicia Kamp  1 , Lisa Proebstl  2 , Nora Penzel  2 , Kristina Adorjan  2   3 , Andrej Ilankovic  4 , Oliver Pogarell  2 , Gabi Koller  2 , Michael Soyka  2 , Peter Falkai  2 , Nikolaos Koutsouleris  2 , Joseph Kambeitz  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Effects of sedative drug use on the dopamine system: a systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo neuroimaging studies

Felicia Kamp et al. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Use of alcohol, cannabis and opioids is highly prevalent and is associated with global disease burden and high economic costs. The exact pathophysiology of abuse or addiction associated with these sedative substances is not completely understood, but previous research implicates the important role of the striatal dopamine system in the addiction process. Multiple studies investigated changes in the striatal dopamine systems of users of sedative substances, but currently these results are very heterogeneous. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of in vivo neuroimaging studies investigating dopaminergic alterations in the striatum of users of alcohol, opioids or cannabis. Analyses for each substance were conducted separately for the availability of D2/D3 dopamine receptors, dopamine transporters and dopamine synthesis capacity. In total, 723 substance users and 752 healthy controls were included. The results indicated a significant lower striatal D2/D3 receptor availability in alcohol users compared to controls (g = 0.46) but no difference in dopamine transporter availability or dopamine synthesis capacity. Our analysis indicated that changes of dopamine receptors and transporters are moderated by the duration of abstinence. Comparing opioid users with controls revealed a significant lower D2/D3 receptor availability (g = 1.17) and a significantly lower transporter availability (g = 1.55) in opioid users. For cannabis users, there was no significant difference in receptor availability compared to controls and too few studies provided information on dopamine transporter availability or synthesis capacity. Our analysis provides strong evidence for a central role of the striatal dopamine system in use of alcohol or opioids. Further studies are needed to clarify the impact of the dopamine system in cannabis users.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Barplot overview: changes of striatal dopamine in sedative drug users
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of meta-analysis of striatal dopaminergic function in alcohol users
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Barplot overview: changes of substriatal dopamine in sedative drug users
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Forest plot of meta-analysis of striatal dopaminergic function in opioid users
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Forest plot of meta-analysis of striatal dopaminergic function in cannabis users
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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