Gustavo A. Angarita, MD, MHS
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interactions of NYX-783 and oxycodone in persons using opioids recreationally: Preliminary results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study
Harvanek Z, Mignosa M, Kitaneh R, Oliva H, Borelli A, Dauginikas E, Fogelman N, Sakmar E, Taylor J, DiLeone R, Sinha R, Angarita G. Safety, tolerability, and drug-drug interactions of NYX-783 and oxycodone in persons using opioids recreationally: Preliminary results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1 study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2026, 279: 113041. PMID: 41604752, PMCID: PMC12924154, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2026.113041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug-drug interactionsOpioid use disorderDouble-blindAdverse eventsDrug effectsSubjective drug effectsPlacebo-controlled phase 1 studyPositive allosteric modulatorsPhase 1 studyDiastolic blood pressureUse disorderOxycodone dosePrimary endpointInpatient studyOpioid useSynaptic plasticityPlasma levelsContext of opioid useOxycodoneAllosteric modulatorsPupillary dilationBlood pressureNovel treatmentRespiratory safetyHealthy humansHigher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Raval N, Riordan W, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Pittman B, Matuskey D, Angarita G, Bonomi R, McKee S, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026, 136 PMID: 41528802, PMCID: PMC13038192, DOI: 10.1172/jci199989.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderFrontal cortexUse disorderControl participantsSynaptic densityModerate alcohol use disorderMarker of synaptic densityPositron emission tomographyNondisplaceable binding potentialHigher drinking frequencyChronic alcohol useBrain imaging scansDrinking severityExecutive functionDrinking daysBinding potentialYears of ageBPNDDrinking frequencyAlcohol useStriatumCortexDeficitsSynaptic dysfunctionImaging scansActigraphy-based sleep outcomes in substance use disorders: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Paredes Naveda A, Oliva H, Ghadimi D, Angarita G. Actigraphy-based sleep outcomes in substance use disorders: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE 2026, 21: e0340595. PMID: 41499544, PMCID: PMC12779124, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340595.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-randomized studiesSubstance use disordersRisk of biasUse disorderSystematic reviewProspective Register for Systematic ReviewsMeta-analysisDiagnosis of substance useRelapse riskSubstance use disorder populationsSleep outcomesSleep-wake characteristicsWeb of ScienceMatched ControlsGold standardEligibility criteriaRest-activity patternsInternational Prospective Register for Systematic ReviewsIndependent reviewersFull-text screeningNon-randomized studies of exposureStudy sleepIntervention studiesSleepSleep disturbanceSleep alterations in substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Oliva H, Prudente T, Naveda A, Monteiro-Junior R, Potenza M, Morgan P, Angarita G. Sleep alterations in substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2026, 91: 103723. PMID: 41552000, PMCID: PMC12805338, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103723.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSubstance use disordersUse disorderSlow-wave sleepTotal sleep timeMeta-analytical levelSystematic reviewNational Institute on Drug AbuseMeta-analysisPre-registered protocolAddictive substancesSleep abnormalitiesSleep alterationsDrug abuseSleep disturbanceWeb of ScienceSleep qualitySleep timeEligible publicationsDisordersAUDSleepCAUDNo studyAlterationsOUD
2025
US drug policy does not align with experts’ rankings of drug harms: a multi-criteria decision analysis
Broman M, Davis A, Armstrong S, Levin A, Ahmed K, Angarita G, Arterberry B, Bergeria C, Earleywine M, Gex K, Gregoire T, Lister J, Mathai D, Mehtani N, Menke N, Nichols C, Shaub H, Tackett A, Weiss B, Yalin N, Phillips L. US drug policy does not align with experts’ rankings of drug harms: a multi-criteria decision analysis. Harm Reduction Journal 2025, 23: 17. PMID: 41476288, PMCID: PMC12866486, DOI: 10.1186/s12954-025-01390-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug harmsDrug policyDrug usePublic health strategiesExpert rankingsMulti-criteria decision analysisControlled Substances ActExperience of drug useUS drug policyState drug policyHealth of peopleImpact of drug useHarm ratesNegative societal impactsHealth strategiesHarm scorePunitive approachSubstances ActExpert assessmentExpert viewsDecision analysisExpert consensusExpert inputHarmEnvironmental damageMeasuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study
Sadabad F, Volpi T, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Dias M, Toyonaga T, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Yang Y, Ibrahim W, Pittman B, Cayir S, Radhakrishnan R, Angarita G, Holmes S, Comley R, Carson R, Finnema S, Matuskey D. Measuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study. Movement Disorders 2025, 40: 2678-2687. PMID: 41040062, DOI: 10.1002/mds.70041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-UCB-JDopamine transporterHealthy controlsVentral striatumDisease stageSubstantia nigraSynaptic densityParkinson's diseaseDopamine transporter availabilityPositron emission tomography imaging studiesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssessment of synaptic densityDopaminergic denervationBetween-group differencesTransporter availabilityBinding potentialNigrostriatal regionDisease durationDual-tracerImaging studiesPatientsPET imagingPresynaptic degenerationPD patientsDopamineQuantitative sensory testing of pain in persons with opioid use disorder on opioid agonist treatment: a scoping review
Oliveira D, Costa G, Fontenele R, Córdoba-Delgado M, Funaro M, Campbell C, Fiellin D, Angarita G, De Aquino J. Quantitative sensory testing of pain in persons with opioid use disorder on opioid agonist treatment: a scoping review. Pain Medicine 2025, 27: 243-253. PMID: 40990827, PMCID: PMC13017201, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaf132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuantitative sensory testingOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist treatmentQST measuresAgonist treatmentQuantitative sensory testing methodologyQuantitative sensory testing outcomesUse disorderNon-OAT opioidsPain processing abnormalitiesPain sensitivity changesPain-related outcomesCold pain toleranceCentral sensitizationSystematic literature searchPain mechanismsPain modulationNeuroadaptive changesPain responseChronic painTreatment responseProlonged abstinencePainWeb of ScienceOpioidPharmacotherapies for stimulant use disorder and co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: protocol for a systematic review and a meta-analysis
Oliva H, Pulido-Saavedra A, Paredes-Naveda A, Forselius E, Potenza M, Jegede O, Angarita G. Pharmacotherapies for stimulant use disorder and co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: protocol for a systematic review and a meta-analysis. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2025, 16: 1667614. PMID: 40980048, PMCID: PMC12444448, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1667614.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderStimulant use disorderUse disorderAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomsStimulant-negative urine samplesDuration of continuous abstinenceAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderDeficit hyperactivity disorderEfficacy of pharmacotherapyCochrane riskSystematic reviewGrading of RecommendationsCochrane risk of bias instrumentRandom-effects modelRandomized Controlled TrialsAttention-deficit/hyperactivitySymptom changeDual diagnosisHyperactivity disorderContinuous abstinenceClinical outcomesAdverse eventsStimulant useEffective pharmacotherapyPrimary outcomeMetabolism in the human brain following oral consumption of a keto-ester for applications in alcohol use disorder (AUD) with 1H-MRSI
Virk M, Kitaneh R, Mignosa M, McIntyre S, Nixon T, DeMartini K, O’Malley S, Krystal J, De Feyter H, Angarita G, Mason G, de Graaf R, Kumaragamage C. Metabolism in the human brain following oral consumption of a keto-ester for applications in alcohol use disorder (AUD) with 1H-MRSI. Proceedings Of The International Society For Magnetic Resonance In Medicine ... Scientific Meeting And Exhibition. 2025 DOI: 10.58530/2025/0612.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGreater Neuroimmune System Deficit in Women Than Men With Alcohol Use Disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Hillmer A, Shi H, Pittman B, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Bonomi R, Matuskey D, Angarita G, McKee S, Cosgrove K. Greater Neuroimmune System Deficit in Women Than Men With Alcohol Use Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 99: 49-56. PMID: 40412787, PMCID: PMC12353993, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.05.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTranslocator protein availabilityAlcohol-induced neurodegenerationExecutive function tasksConsequences of alcohol useAlcohol use disorderBrain imaging scansTranslocator protein levelsSex-matched controlsExecutive functionLower hippocampalTSPO availabilityFrontal cortexTranslocator proteinUse disorderNeurocognitive functionBrain regionsSex differencesAlcohol useBrain-resident immune cellsNeuroimmune mechanismsFunctional tasksSystem deficitsAUDImaging scansNeuroimmune cells
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Brain Imaging and Synaptic Plasticity
IRB ID2000029552RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 60 yearsEligibility for Participation in Neuroimaging Studies
IRB ID2000027842RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2023Recruiting ParticipantsHPA axis function in the brains of PTSD, Trauma Exposed, or Otherwise Healthy research participants utilizing PET and MRI imaging
IRB ID2000028748RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 yearsStudying the Adult Brain
IRB ID2000025671RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsImaging the Dopamine Transporter in Parkinson's Disease
IRB ID2000023896RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2020Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge40+ years
Clinical Care
Overview
Gustavo A. Angarita, MD, specializes in psychiatry with a focus on addiction psychiatry, particularly related to cocaine addiction. He is the director of the Yale Cocaine Research Clinic, inpatient chief of the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, and the medical director of the Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic.
Dr. Angarita is dedicated to understanding and treating substance use disorders, aiming to develop effective treatments for cocaine dependence. As an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, his research interests include the regulation of cocaine self-administration, validation of remote wireless sensor network technology for detecting cocaine use, and investigating cocaine-induced sleep deficits and their therapeutic effects.
Dr. Angarita received his medical degree from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. He completed a research fellowship in addictions at Harvard Medical School, followed by a residency in adult psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. He continued his specialization with a clinical and research fellowship in addictions psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Clinical Specialties
Psychiatry
News
News
- January 29, 2026Source: eClinical Medicine
Sleep Alterations in Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- January 20, 2026
Yale Study: Higher Drinking Frequency Corresponds to Lower Synaptic Density in People with Alcohol Use Disorder
- September 25, 2025Source: Pain Medicine
Quantitative Sensory Testing of Pain in Persons with Opioid Use Disorder on Opioid Agonist Treatment: A Scoping Review
- August 11, 2025
Angarita, De Aquino Named Mentors for ACNP Near-Peer Mentorship Program
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