Addiction and stress: Exploring the reward pathways in brain affected by different drugs.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing mechanistic concepts without original data or systematic review methodology
PubMed 40222788 · doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2025.01.012
What was done
Narrative review examining the neurobiological interactions among stress, brain reward pathways (nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, prefrontal cortex), and substance use disorders across several drug classes (opioids, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens).
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data or specific numerical results. It qualitatively describes how genetic predispositions, environmental stressors, and reward neurocircuitry reinforce addictive behaviors and how stress heightens craving and relapse risk.
Why it matters
Provides a conceptual overview of the neurobiological links between stress and drug-reward circuits to support targeted, individualized interventions for substance use disorders.
Limits
Narrative book chapter/review with no original empirical data, no systematic search methodology, and no quantitative outcomes reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Digital media engages the same brain reward pathways as drugs and alcohol.