Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Background: Highly prevalent in schizophrenia, tobacco smoking substantially increases the risk of cardiac-related death. Compared to the general population, tobacco smoking cessation rates are lower in schizophrenia. Unfortunately, the reasons for these low cessation rates remain poorly understood. Recently, it has been shown that tobacco cravings are increased in schizophrenia smokers compared to smokers with no comorbid psychiatric disorder. In view of these results, we sought to examine ΓΆΒ?Β? for the first time ΓΆΒ?Β? the neurophysiologic responses elicited by cigarette cues in schizophrenia smokers. We hypothesized that cigarette cues would elicit increased activations in brain regions involved in drug cravings in schizophrenia smokers relative to control smokers. Methods: Smokers with (n=18) and without (n=24) schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing appetitive cigarette images.

Biography

Stephane Potvin is working on the harmful role of cannabis and alcohol on brain structures in schizophrenia, focusing particularly on the brain's reward system. He is also interested in mechanisms of modulation of the affective components of pain and emotion processing in schizophrenia patients that are abusing cannabis by using neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging. He is holder of the Chair in Schizophrenia Research funded by Eli Lilly Canada, Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montreal Foundation and the Hospital Sacre-Coeur de Montréal Foundation.

Email: spotvin77@gmail.com