SESSION TITLE

Adverse Functional Outcomes Related to Substance Use and Abuse Following Traumatic Brain Injury  Repetitive TBI

DESCRIPTION

Co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) and substance misuse/abuse is a common, growing international health concern. While it is well established that drug/alcohol intoxication can increase probability of TBI, much less is known regarding how TBI might affect functional outcomes related to maladaptive substance misuse/abuse, which is the focus of the current panel. The panel will cover a broad range of TBI modalities (e.g. mild, moderate, blast-induced) and multiple classes of abused substances (e.g. alcohol and opioids). Likewise, data presented will represent those from animal models as well as from clinical participant studies. Discussion will center on functional outcomes as they relate to co-occurring TBI and substance abuse, and will span a variety of experiential techniques and outcome measures. Presenters will explore the influence of TBI on the rewarding/motivational, stimulating, and sedative effects of abused substances. Likewise, presenters will provide insight into potential underlying mechanisms of TBI-induced dysfunction as it relates to dopamine signaling, mu opioid receptor dynamics, and structural and functional neuroimaging correlates. Together these talks aim to describe the functional outcomes and complexities associated with co-occurring TBI and substance misuse/abuse, as well as highlight new avenues for diagnosis and treatment interventions.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Describe the influence of experimental traumatic brain injury on molecular, cellular and behavioral functions related to morphine action in the delayed post-injury period.
2. Describe structural and functional neuroimaging outcomes associated with exposure to oxycodone self-administration and/or changes in drug seeking following repeated blast mild traumatic brain injury in the rat.
3. Describe potential underlying dopamine-related signaling mechanisms supporting co-occurring traumatic brain injury and alcohol use/misuse.
4. Demonstrate how neural networks vulnerable to injury may be dysfunctional among people with co-occurring mild traumatic brain injury and alcohol use disorder.