The "vigilance hypothesis" and psychotherapists.

Gave 41 postdoctoral male counselors, psychotherapists, and counselor educators a modified repertory test. Contrary to previous findings, presumed positive and negative affect role constructs of significant others did not produce significant differences. However, varying combinations of role constructs particularly potent for this sample produced significant results. Specifically, the role constructs-boss and person you'd like to help-previously presumed to be negative affect role constructs, were found to be positive, while the role constructs-mother and father-were found to be less positive than one might expect. The study was replicated on 7 male and 9 female graduate students with identical results. Findings are discussed in terms of the presumed affective quality and differential evaluations of the role constructs for students, teachers, and practitioners of counseling psychotherapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dual dopamine/serotonin releasers: Potential treatment agents for stimulant addiction.

Agonist therapy for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction involves administration of stimulant-like medications (e.g., monoamine releasers) to reduce withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse. A significant problem with this strategy is that many candidate medications possess abuse liability because of activation of mesolimbic dopamine (DA) neurons in the brain. One way to reduce DA-mediated abuse liability of candidate drugs is to add in serotonin (5-HT) releasing properties, since substantial evidence shows that 5-HT neurons provide an inhibitory influence over mesolimbic DA neurons. This article addresses several key issues related to the development of dual DA/5-HT releasers for the treatment of substance use disorders. First, the authors briefly summarize the evidence supporting a dual deficit in DA and 5-HT function during withdrawal from chronic cocaine or alcohol abuse. Second, the authors discuss data demonstrating that 5HT release can dampen DA-mediated stimulant effects, and the antistimulant role of 5-HT2C receptors is considered. Next, the mechanisms underlying potential adverse effects of 5-HT releasers are described. Finally, the authors discuss recently published data with PAL-287, a novel nonamphetamine DA/5-HT releasing agent that suppresses cocaine self-administration but lacks positive reinforcing properties. It is concluded that DA/5-HT releasers could be useful therapeutic adjuncts for the treatment of cocaine and alcohol addictions, as well as for obesity, attention-deficit disorder, and depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)