Mehmet Sofuoglu, MD, PhD
Cards
Appointments
Titles
Director of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Contact Info
Appointments
Titles
Director of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Contact Info
Appointments
Titles
Director of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Contact Info
About
Titles
Professor of Psychiatry
Director of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)Appointments
Psychiatry
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Prevention and Control
- Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Use Research at Yale (CENTURY)
- Division of Addictions
- Psychiatry
- Psychotherapy Development Center
- Stress & Addiction Clinical Research Program
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
- Yale Translational Center to Develop Gender-Sensitive Treatment for Tobacco Dependence
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Minnesota (1991)
- MD
- Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine (1986)
Research
Overview
Our research is focused on development of novel treatments for substance use disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders. We conduct both Phase 1 human laboratory studies and outpatient clinical trials testing the efficacy of potential treatments. We are also interested in tobacco regulatory science with a focus on the impact of nicotine and flavors on the appeal and abuse potential of tobacco products. We have developed a novel intravenous nicotine self-administration model which allows examination of both rewarding and aversive effects of nicotine in male and female smokers.
Recent projects include:
- The reinforcing threshold for intravenous nicotine self-administration in male and female smokers.
- Individual factors influencing the rewarding effects of nicotine in male and female smokers.
- Impact of menthol and other flavors on the rewarding effects of nicotine in humans.
- The potential efficacy of cognitive enhancers as a treatment for substance use disorders.
- Progesterone as a potential treatment to prevent relapse in women with substance use disorder.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Elise DeVito, PhD
Joao P. De Aquino, MD
R. Ross MacLean, PhD
Charla Nich
Ismene Petrakis, MD
Julia Meyerovich
Cocaine-Related Disorders
Tobacco
Publications
2024
Pulsed nicotine infusions as a model for smoking: validating a tool to explore nicotine thresholds in humans
Parida S, MacLean R, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. Pulsed nicotine infusions as a model for smoking: validating a tool to explore nicotine thresholds in humans. Psychopharmacology 2024, 1-8. PMID: 38970644, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06609-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDiscriminative stimulus effectsAddiction thresholdNicotine doseDiscriminative stimulus effects of nicotineStimulus effects of nicotineNicotine deliveryEffects of nicotineOvernight abstinenceStimulus effectsNicotine infusionSubjective effectsTest sessionsNicotineMethodsEleven participantsInfusion procedureLow dosesParticipantsThreshold doseConclusionsTheseAbstinenceDoseHeart rateInfusionSmokingObjectivesToA Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSD
Palmisano A, Meshberg-Cohen S, Petrakis I, Sofuoglu M. A Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSD. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2024, 16: 768-783. PMID: 36595460, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderBehavioral treatment outcomesEvidence-based treatmentsCognitive controlThreat processingBody of researchPTSD outcomesPTSD treatmentPaucity of researchStress disorderPreliminary supportIntermediate phenotypesTreatment dropoutMethodological limitationsStudy limitationsTreatment effectsCurrent researchTreatment approachesStrong conclusionsNovel treatment approachesEmpirical studyTreatment outcomesTreatment efficacyResearchMemoryA preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder
Wolkowicz N, Sofuoglu M, Pittman B, Meyerovich J, MacLean R, De Aquino J. A preliminary investigation of the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on pain and opioid attentional bias among persons with opioid use disorder. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 177: 90-95. PMID: 38991269, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.06.047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAttentional biasOpioid use disorderDelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolTHC administrationDose of methadoneOpioid cuesUse disorderEffects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinolLower doses of methadoneVisual probe taskHigher doses of methadoneEffects of cannabinoidsFive-hour sessionTHC doseOral THCProbe taskPsychoactive constituentAddictive propertiesMethadone patientsMethadone doseWithin-subjectTHCPreliminary evidenceMethadoneAcute effectsHealth correlates of experiential and behavioral avoidance among trauma-exposed veterans
Schwartz E, Palmisano A, Petrakis I, Pietrzak R, Sofuoglu M. Health correlates of experiential and behavioral avoidance among trauma-exposed veterans. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 176: 213-217. PMID: 38878649, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.06.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTrauma-exposed veteransExperiential avoidanceBehavioral avoidanceAnxiety symptomsDepressive symptomsMental health outcomesCognitive dysfunctionPhysical healthPhysical health outcomesHealth outcomesQuality of lifeHealth-related dysfunctionTrauma historyPsychosocial functioningCognitive functionAvoidance behaviorOutcome measuresHealth-related quality of lifeTreatment targetDistressExploratory analysisVeteransHealth-related qualityAvoidanceAnxietyGlial modulators as novel therapeutics for comorbid pain and opioid use disorder
Schwartz E, De Aquino J, Sofuoglu M. Glial modulators as novel therapeutics for comorbid pain and opioid use disorder. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 PMID: 38752593, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsOpioid use disorderChronic painGlial modulationNovel treatment approachesComorbid painPublic health problemTreatment approachesImproved pain measuresLiterature search of PubMedIncreased opioid prescriptionsSearch of PubMedAddiction-related outcomesSignificant public health problemComorbid disordersOpioid prescriptionsGoogle Scholar databasesPain measuresHealth problemsPain managementClinical studiesTreatment challengesClinical trialsPatient populationPainGlial activationFrom taboo to treatment: The emergence of psychedelics in the management of pain and opioid use disorder
Weleff J, Nunes J, Costa G, Sofuoglu M, MacLean R, De Aquino J. From taboo to treatment: The emergence of psychedelics in the management of pain and opioid use disorder. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 PMID: 38627909, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16045.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsOpioid use disorderChronic painLong-term opioid therapyManagement of chronic painPain management alternativeOpioid-induced analgesiaInnovative treatment optionsManagement of painReverse painCentral sensitizationOpioid therapyPain controlTreatment optionsClinical challengeClinical trialsPainPotential therapeutic applicationsPain experiencePotential of psychedelicsNovel therapeuticsHuman evidenceOpioid crisisNeurobiological substratesOpioidExploration of novel therapeuticsEfficacy of Integrating the Management of Pain and Addiction via Collaborative Treatment (IMPACT) in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial of a Digital Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
MacLean R, Ankawi B, Driscoll M, Gordon M, Frankforter T, Nich C, Szollosy S, Loya J, Brito L, Ribeiro M, Edmond S, Becker W, Martino S, Sofuoglu M, Heapy A. Efficacy of Integrating the Management of Pain and Addiction via Collaborative Treatment (IMPACT) in Individuals With Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial of a Digital Cognitive Behavioral Treatment. JMIR Research Protocols 2024, 13: e54342. PMID: 38506917, PMCID: PMC10993119, DOI: 10.2196/54342.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricThe relationship of pain intensity and opioid craving with delayed methadone dose: A preliminary study of individuals with opioid use disorder
MacLean R, Spinola S, Pittman B, Meyerovich J, Szollosy S, Wolkowicz N, Minnix S, Sofuoglu M. The relationship of pain intensity and opioid craving with delayed methadone dose: A preliminary study of individuals with opioid use disorder. British Journal Of Clinical Pharmacology 2024 PMID: 38439592, DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCold pressor testMethadone doseExperience of painOpioid cravingMethadone conditionTime course of painRelationship of pain intensityDose conditionsCourse of painAssessment of painOpioid use disorderCross-over designPain intensityPain thresholdIncreased riskPainStudy visitsPressor testDelayed dosesUse disorderCravingOpioidMethadone treatmentDoseMethadone
2023
Brief report: The influence of childhood trauma on the effects of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol in persons with opioid use disorder
Rogan M, Nunes J, Xie C, Sofuoglu M, Pittman B, De Aquino J. Brief report: The influence of childhood trauma on the effects of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol in persons with opioid use disorder. American Journal On Addictions 2023, 33: 343-346. PMID: 38059660, PMCID: PMC11032222, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13504.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricAssociations Between Childhood Trauma and Tobacco Use Outcomes in Adults after Overnight Abstinence
Palmisano A, Schwartz E, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. Associations Between Childhood Trauma and Tobacco Use Outcomes in Adults after Overnight Abstinence. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 2023, 26: 324-332. PMID: 37565294, PMCID: PMC10882440, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntad135.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsSevere nicotine dependenceNicotine dependenceCotinine levelsChildhood traumaWithdrawal severityOvernight abstinenceSmoking outcomesAbuse groupHigher plasma cotinine levelsTrauma subscalesPlasma cotinine levelsNegative affectSmoking-related outcomesPublic health interventionsStudies of adultsTobacco use outcomesSevere childhood traumaChildhood trauma historyCessation interventionsMinimal groupsSmoking riskBiochemical assessmentSmoking behaviorSmoking urgesPlasma cortisol
Links & Media
News
- April 22, 2024Source: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
From Taboo to Treatment: The Emergence of Psychedelics in the Management of Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
- December 08, 2023Source: American Journal on Addictions
The Influence of Childhood Trauma on the Effects of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Persons with Opioid Use Disorder
- September 27, 2023
$20M Federal Grant Renewed for Yale Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science
- August 01, 2023Source: Addiction Biology
Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Modulates Pain Sensitivity Among People Receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy
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