Translational Models of Sleep and Sleep Disorders

PREFACE: What Do You Mean by “Translational Research”? An Enquiry Through Animal and Translational Models for CNS Drug Discovery: Reward Deficit Disorders

“…The role of hypothalamic peptides in motivated behavior, for example, is of particular interest, 93,95,96 as is the role of GABA and glutamate. 93,94,[97][98][99] Common themes that emerge from these chapters is the role played by stress, changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), and how the brain adapts to chronic stress through the process of allostasis ( cf ., 90,[100][101][102][103][104] , and discussed by Doran and colleagues in Volume 1, Psychiatric Disorders 104 ). Response to chronic stress and vulnerability to stress mediated by neurodevelopmental factors are key risk factors inherent in not only in psychiatric disorders (e.g., 18,61,105 ), but reward defi cit disorders as well.…”

“…Cocaine and alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, are associated more with psychological symptoms such as depression, fatigue, anxiety and irritability, although sleep disturbances such as insomnia are prominent. 16,93,104 These are powerful inducers to relapse, 90 and the prevention of relapse is a major therapeutic goal. 15,93,94 As discussed in the fi rst volume of this book series, allostatic changes in response to chronic stress is thought to underlie many psychiatric disorders and consequently there is a great degree of comorbidity between psychiatric and reward defi cit disorders.…”

“…Common examples include the amphetamines and fenfl uramine for use in the treatment of obesity, 116 and the use of benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety, 115 or sleep disorders. 104 The FDA requires that every candidate drug being submitted for an NDA be evaluated for potential risks, which can include abuse potential. 16 As indicated previously, abuse liability potential is assessed using the self-administration, or drug discrimination procedures described.…”

“…Brain imaging is far and beyond one the most effective translational techniques being used extensively in early development 5,24,68 not only in neurology 17,110,132,152,153 but psychiatry 18,61,104,105,111,112,154 and reward defi cit disorders. 90,92,106,107,116 These are techniques that lend themselves very well to translational research (e.g., 82,[155][156][157][158][159].…”