Controlling the Brain With Optogenetics Using Lasers and Magnets To Treat Substance Abuse

Scientists have developed a novel therapy called optogenetics using electromagnetic stimulation and laser light on the brain to treat substance abuse such as cocaine addiction.

Optogenetics is a technique used in behavioral science to control brain activity. This type of technique is called neuromodulation. It is done by stimulating specific individual neurons in the brain using light to elicit a predetermined reaction. What makes optogenetics particularly special is that the technique can alter brain activity of the subject without compromising or directly affecting its behavior.

By employing electromagnetic stimulation instead of lasers, the researchers are confident that it can directly control and even eradicate substance addiction in humans. They are also optimistic that this type of therapy is ready for human clinical trials.

Lab experiments have shown that they through optogenetics, they can turn on and turn off this type of compulsive behavior by using laser light on the prefrontal cortex of lab rats.

Treating Alcohol Dependence Through Patient Insight Rather Than Abstinence Proposed

On Oct 1997, the journal, Science, published a paper by Alan Leshner. The editorial piece, Addiction Is A Brain Disease, And It Matters, notes that addiction is a "chronic, relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use can impact society's overall health and social policy strategies and help diminish the health and social costs associated with drug abuse and addiction..."

Leshner also suggests that treatment for addiction should include biological, behavioral, and social-context components to be effective.

Changes To Criteria For Substance Use Disorders In Next Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, it is commonly known as DSM.

The manual has been praised for its contribution to the care of patients and to the science community by providing rigorous and reliable diagnostic criteria for psychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder and social phobia. But at the same time, it is also criticized by others for creating too many diagnostic categories and for allowing "the distinction between psychopathology and normal psychological phenomena (e.g., sadness after a major stressful event, shyness in social situations) to be eroded...".

The latest version is DSM-IV-TR (DSM Fourth Edition, Text Revision). This version is organized into a five-part axis system. Each axis or dimension relates to a different aspect of disorder or disability.

• Clinical disorders
• Personality disorders and intellectual disabilities
• Acute medical conditions and physical disorders
• Psychosocial and environmental factors contributing to the disorder
• Global Assessment of Functioning or Children's Global Assessment Scale for children and teens under the age of 18