Citation

Gallant C, Good D. Appl. Neuropsychol. Adult 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Centre for Neuroscience, Brock University , St. Catharines , ON , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/23279095.2019.1670181

PMID

31561716

Abstract

Although many researchers have demonstrated an increase in alcohol use following traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is also a body of research indicating that alcohol misuse predisposes one to injury and precedes TBI. Accordingly, various mechanisms have been proposed (e.g., self-medication, dampened levels of arousal, dopaminergic dysfunction, etc.) and variable results have emerged. This paper reviews the empirical evidence, for and against, TBI as a risk factor for alcohol misuse. In particular, this paper focuses on the brain-behavior relationships involved and examines the roles of physiological underarousal and dopaminergic dysfunction in the development of alcohol misuse after injury. Alcohol misuse impedes community reintegration among TBI survivors and creates additional rehabilitative challenges. Thus, in order to inform and improve treatment outcomes among this vulnerable population, a deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms implicated is needed.

Language: en

Keywords

Addictive behavior; alcohol use; dopaminergic dysfunction; physiological arousal; traumatic brain injury