Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Psychology. Bibliography: leaves 188-213. Also available online via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 95 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-64).

When periodic electroconvulsive shocks (ECSs) were administered, a progressive intensification of the motor seizure (MS) pattern occurred. This effect was observed when ECSs at either 15 or 75 mA were administered at 3-day, but not 1-hr intervals. The magnitude of the increase in severity of the MS pattern was a function of the number of ECSs which approached asymptote, in these experiments, at approximately ten ECSs. Periodic ECSs were also found to potentiate the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In general, those conditions which were found to facilitate the kindling of MSs were the same as those which produced the potentiation of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, this potentiation was found to persist up to 3 weeks after the last ECS under the conditions used in these experiments. Finally, the potentiation of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome occurred even after the MSs had been pharmacologically blocked. The results of these experiments were discussed in light of their implications to both basic and clinical research. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 1998? / Bibliography: leaves 1-26.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--George Mason University, 2009. / Vita: p. 118. Thesis director: Robert F. Smith. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 10, 2009\). Includes bibliographical references (p. 101-117). Also issued in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 23, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-60).

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / ‘Cigarette smoking is a modern day epidemic that poses a substantial health burden’, it has been proven that smokers die on average fourteen years earlier than non smokers as a direct result of their smoking. An abundance of evidence indicates that the health risks associated with cigarette smoking can however be reversed with a sufficient period of abstinence. Thus achieving life-long abstinence must be a health priority for both developing and developed countries (Caponnetto &, Polosa, 2008). Over 80% of smokers express a desire to stop smoking and 35% of them try to stop each year. However, less than 5% are successful in un-aided attempts to quit (American Psychiatric Association, 1995). The greatest challenge facing smokers who wish to quit are nicotine withdrawal symptoms; these include dysphoric or depressed mood, insomnia, irritability, frustration, anger, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, decreased heart rate and increased appetite or weight gain (American Psychiatric Association, 1995). The aim of this double blind placebo controlled quantitative study was to determine the effectiveness of a homoeopathic complex (Caladium seguinum 30 CH, Nux vomica 30 CH and Staphysagria delphinium 30 CH); a tautopathic preparation and the combined effect thereof, in the treatment of nicotine withdrawal syndrome as determined by the Tolerance Dependence Questionnaire, Smoking History and Perceptions of Treatment Questionnaire. Methodology Forty participants recruited by means of convenience sampling were randomly and equally divided into one of four treatment groups, namely tautopathic group, homoeopathic group, combined tautopathic and homoeopathic group and placebo group. The duration of the study was 2 weeks and two consultations with each participant were conducted. The respective interventions were administered in oral spray format; participants were asked to spray their respective preparations directly into their mouth three times daily and to repeat the dose whenever they had a craving for a cigarette. iv Measurements in the form of the Tolerance Dependence Questionnaire (Appendix D), Perceptions of Treatment Questionnaire (Appendix H), and Smoking History (Appendix G) were used to quantify response to treatment. Non-parametric statistical analysis was conducted to analyse the data. Results All four research groups experienced a statistically significant reduction in the amount of cigarettes smoked, favourable perceptions of their response to treatment and improved tolerance. Statistically however when the groups were compared with each other they were similar with respect to their tolerance to nicotine, perception of response to treatment and reduction in amount smoked. Although interventions were statistically similar in terms of effectiveness, the data does suggest that Tautopathy as an intervention warrants exploration. The Tautopathic group achieved the highest reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked when comparing medians (11 less smoked per day), achieved the highest percentage of participants who experienced reduced cravings, and the highest percentage of participants who would continue using the intervention (90% respectively) as well as improvements in 6/9 variables of the Tolerance Dependence Questionnaire. Conclusions The study concludes that each of the four subject groups (including placebo) proved to be successful in aiding the participant to cease smoking. The results showed a significantly positive perception of the participants to the interventions used. The influence of the placebo effect however was very evident in this study; in addition other factors such as the unique method of administration of the medication (oral spray format on demand) the Hawthorn effect and the participants’ desire/commitment to quit smoking may have contributed to the positive results obtained. Notwithstanding the above and although not statistically significant; positive trends within the data do suggest that the Tautopathic approach used in this study should be further investigated in future.

Fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses resulting from opioid induced respiratory depression are a significant problem throughout the world. Whilst the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone hydrochloride, can effectively reverse opioid overdoses, its use is limited because of the adverse effects it produces. These include severe withdrawal and the reversal of analgesia produced by opioid receptor agonists. In this project, the peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone methiodide, was investigated for its potential to reverse opioid induced respiratory depression without altering centrally mediated effects, such as withdrawal. In the publications presented in this thesis, naloxone hydrochloride and naloxone methiodide were shown to effectively reverse the decreases in respiratory rate produced by the administration of morphine, methadone and heroin in mice. Naloxone hydrochloride and naloxone methiodide also reversed the analgesia produced by these opioid receptor agonist treatments, but only naloxone hydrochloride induced significant withdrawal. The doses of naloxone methiodide required to produce the effects described above were higher than the naloxone hydrochloride doses required. Radioligand binding techniques indicated that this was due to a difference in the affinity of naloxone hydrochloride and naloxone methiodide for µ, δ and κ opioid receptor binding sites. Radioligand binding techniques were also used to confirm that naloxone methiodide, or its metabolites, could not readily cross the blood brain barrier. Therefore, the effects of naloxone methiodide appear to be mediated outside the central nervous system. The final publication aimed to extend our knowledge of opioid induced respiratory depression by utilising new radiotelemetry technology to test the efficacy of naloxone methiodide in rats subjected to a chronic opioid administration regime. This experiment showed that circadian rhythm plays a role in the development of tolerance to the cardiorespiratory effects of continuous and chronic methadone administration, and that naloxone hydrochloride and naloxone methiodide treatment can increase respiratory rate and heart rate after this methadone administration. Therefore, naloxone methiodide can effectively antagonise the peripheral effects produced by opioid receptor agonists. Peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonists should be developed in the future to prevent or treat the adverse effects of opioid receptor agonists. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 2004.

Increased demands on amphetamine dependence treatment services point to a need for effective pharmacotherapies for withdrawal symptom suppression. However, empirical data on which to base effective treatments are scarce. To address the need for an evidence base, four studies were conducted in two countries - Australia and Thailand. Firstly, the time course and severity of amphetamine withdrawal symptoms were characterised in two inpatient samples of amphetamine users. Results identified the first week of abstinence as an acute withdrawal phase characterised by increased sleeping, eating and a cluster of mood and anxiety - related symptoms. Following the acute phase, most withdrawal symptoms remained stable and at low levels for the remaining two weeks of abstinence ( the sub - acute phase ). Data from these two studies formed the basis for a new instrument, the Amphetamine Cessation Symptom Assessment scale ( ACSA ). On psychometric testing, the ACSA showed satisfactory reliability and a clear psychometric structure, delineating symptom clusters and their correlates with a three factor solution providing the best fit to the data. Using the ACSA to measure outcome, the safety and efficacy of the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor antidepressant mirtazapine ( 15 - 60 mg per day, n = 13 ), and the wake-promoting drug, modafinil ( 400mg per day, n = 14 ) were assessed in successive, open - label, inpatient pilot trials. Study medication was administered for up to ten days. An historical comparison group ( n = 22 ) who received treatment as usual consisting of pericyazine 2.5 - 10mg per day for control of agitation served as a comparison. Results showed that modafinil and mirtazapine were well tolerated, producing minimal positive subjective effects. There were significant group differences in withdrawal severity ( F = 18.6, df 2,219 p < 0.001 ). Post - hoc analysis showed that modafinil was more effective than mirtazapine ( p = 0.041 ), and both were more effective than treatment as usual ( both p < 0.001 ) in ameliorating withdrawal severity. Overall, these studies identified a peak in withdrawal severity during the first week of abstinence ; demonstrated the reliability and validity of the ACSA and identified modafinil as a safe and potentially effective pharmacotherapy for the treatment of amphetamine withdrawal symptoms. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Medical School, 2005.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2009. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.