Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Lehofer, M; Liebmann, PM; Moser, M; Legl, T; Pernhaupt, G; Schauenstein, K; Zapotoczky, HG.
Decreased nociceptive sensitivity: a biological risk marker for opiate dependence?
Addiction. 1997; 92(2):163-166
Doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1997.tb03648.x
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- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Liebmann-Holzmann Peter
- Moser Maximilian
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- Abstract:
- In recent studies using a cold pressor test we could show that former opiate addicts are persistently less pain-sensitive than healthy controls, indicating a neurophysiologic dysfunction in these patients. In the present study we addressed the issue of whether this dysfunction was caused by the drug abuse or already existed prior to the heroin addiction, and whether it is restricted to pain sensitivity or affects somatosensory or nociceptive sensitivity in general. After validating the method we obtained retrospective ratings for the pain, cold and warmth sensitivity for the time before addiction, during addiction and during detoxification. Ex-addicts perceive themselves less pain- and cold-sensitive than healthy controls, and no difference was detectable between the pre-addiction and the rehabilitation ratings, although nociceptive sensitivity is highly increased during detoxification. Warmth sensitivity was not different to healthy controls and was not affected by drug withdrawal. Our findings suggest that a decreased nociceptive sensitivity may already precede opiate addiction pointing to physiological dysfunctions in heroin pre-addicts.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Adult -
- Cold - diagnostic use
- Female - diagnostic use
- Heat - diagnostic use
- Humans - diagnostic use
- Male - diagnostic use
- Nociceptors - physiology
- Opioid-Related Disorders - diagnosis
- Pain - physiopathology
- Sensation - physiopathology