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Targeting the Brain Stress Systems for the Treatment of Tobacco/Nicotine Dependence: Translating Preclinical and Clinical Findings

  • Tobacco (AH Weinberger, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable mortality in the USA, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications fail to maintain long-term abstinence for the majority of smokers.

Recent findings

One of the principal mechanisms associated with the initiation, maintenance of, and relapse to smoking is stress. Targeting the brain stress systems as a potential treatment strategy for tobacco dependence may be of therapeutic benefit.

Summary

This review explores brain stress systems in tobacco use and dependence. The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and the noradrenergic system are discussed in relation to tobacco use. Preclinical and clinical investigations targeting these stress systems as treatment strategies for stress-induced tobacco use are also discussed. Overall, nicotine-induced activation of the CRF system and subsequent activation of the HPA axis and noradrenergic system may be related to stress-induced nicotine-motivated behaviors. Pharmacological agents that decrease stress-induced hyperactivation of these brain stress systems may improve smoking-related outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Biruktawit Assefa for the assistance with the literature review. This work was supported by NIH grants T32DA007238 (TLV), P50DA033945 (SAM), and R01AA022285 (SAM).

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  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 2 Church Street South, Suite 201, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA

    Terril L. Verplaetse & Sherry A. McKee

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Correspondence to Terril L. Verplaetse.

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Terril L. Verplaetse, PhD and Sherry A. McKee, PhD declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Terril L. Verplaetse, PhD and Sherry A. McKee, PhD contributed to studies cited in the article. An institutional research ethics board approved each of these studies, and each conformed to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Verplaetse, T.L., McKee, S.A. Targeting the Brain Stress Systems for the Treatment of Tobacco/Nicotine Dependence: Translating Preclinical and Clinical Findings. Curr Addict Rep 3, 314–322 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-016-0115-x

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