Mehmet Sofuoglu, MD, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry; Director of VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Our research is focused on development of novel treatments for substance use disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders. We are also interested in tobacco regulatory science with a particular focus on the impact of nicotine and flavors on the abuse potential of tobacco products.
Specialized Terms: Tobacco use disorder; Nicotine Reinforcement; Substance Use Disorder; Clinical trials; Human laboratory studies
Extensive Research Description
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.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Tobacco; Substance-Related Disorders; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Psychiatry and Psychology
Selected Publications
- Threshold dose for intravenous nicotine self-administration in young adult non-dependent smokers.MacLean RR, DeVito EE, Eid T, Parida S, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. Threshold dose for intravenous nicotine self-administration in young adult non-dependent smokers. Psychopharmacology 2021, 238: 2083-2090. PMID: 33796907, PMCID: PMC8715498, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05833-8.
- The Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Microinduction for Opioid Use Disorder.De Aquino JP, Parida S, Sofuoglu M. The Pharmacology of Buprenorphine Microinduction for Opioid Use Disorder. Clinical Drug Investigation 2021, 41: 425-436. PMID: 33818748, PMCID: PMC8020374, DOI: 10.1007/s40261-021-01032-7.
- Minocycline does not affect experimental pain or addiction-related outcomes in opioid maintained patients.Arout CA, Waters AJ, MacLean RR, Compton P, Sofuoglu M. Minocycline does not affect experimental pain or addiction-related outcomes in opioid maintained patients. Psychopharmacology 2019, 236: 2857-2866. PMID: 30564869, PMCID: PMC6581631, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-018-5146-7.
- Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Galantamine for Methadone-Maintained Individuals With Cocaine Use Disorder: Secondary Analysis of Effects on Illicit Opioid Use.Carroll KM, DeVito EE, Yip SW, Nich C, Sofuoglu M. Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Galantamine for Methadone-Maintained Individuals With Cocaine Use Disorder: Secondary Analysis of Effects on Illicit Opioid Use. The American Journal On Addictions / American Academy Of Psychiatrists In Alcoholism And Addictions 2019, 28: 238-245. PMID: 31165574, PMCID: PMC9078084, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.12904.
- Randomized placebo-controlled trial of galantamine in individuals with cocaine use disorder.DeVito EE, Carroll KM, Babuscio T, Nich C, Sofuoglu M. Randomized placebo-controlled trial of galantamine in individuals with cocaine use disorder. Journal Of Substance Abuse Treatment 2019, 107: 29-37. PMID: 31757262, PMCID: PMC6918721, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2019.08.009.
- The Cholinergic System as a Treatment Target for Opioid Use Disorder.Jensen KP, DeVito EE, Yip S, Carroll KM, Sofuoglu M. The Cholinergic System as a Treatment Target for Opioid Use Disorder. CNS Drugs 2018, 32: 981-996. PMID: 30259415, PMCID: PMC6314885, DOI: 10.1007/s40263-018-0572-y.
- Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications.MacLean RR, Valentine GW, Jatlow PI, Sofuoglu M. Inhalation of Alcohol Vapor: Measurement and Implications. Alcoholism, Clinical And Experimental Research 2017, 41: 238-250. PMID: 28054395, PMCID: PMC6143144, DOI: 10.1111/acer.13291.
- The effects of alcohol-containing e-cigarettes on young adult smokers.Valentine GW, Jatlow PI, Coffman M, Nadim H, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. The effects of alcohol-containing e-cigarettes on young adult smokers. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2016, 159: 272-6. PMID: 26778759, PMCID: PMC5171208, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.011.
- Intravenous Nicotine Self-Administration in Smokers: Dose-Response Function and Sex Differences.Jensen KP, DeVito EE, Valentine G, Gueorguieva R, Sofuoglu M. Intravenous Nicotine Self-Administration in Smokers: Dose-Response Function and Sex Differences. Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2016, 41: 2034-40. PMID: 26717881, PMCID: PMC4908640, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.373.
- Targeting Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia in Clinical Treatment: Neurobiological Considerations.Arout CA, Edens E, Petrakis IL, Sofuoglu M. Targeting Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia in Clinical Treatment: Neurobiological Considerations. CNS Drugs 2015, 29: 465-86. PMID: 26142224, DOI: 10.1007/s40263-015-0255-x.
- Progesterone Reduces Cocaine Use in Postpartum Women with a Cocaine Use Disorder: A Randomized,Double-Blind Study.Yonkers KA, Forray A, Nich C, Carroll KM, Hine C, Merry BC, Shaw H, Shaw J, Sofuoglu M. Progesterone Reduces Cocaine Use in Postpartum Women with a Cocaine Use Disorder: A Randomized,Double-Blind Study. The Lancet. Psychiatry 2014, 1: 360-367. PMID: 25328863, PMCID: PMC4199242, DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70333-5.
- Rapid nicotine clearance is associated with greater reward and heart rate increases from intravenous nicotine.Sofuoglu M, Herman AI, Nadim H, Jatlow P. Rapid nicotine clearance is associated with greater reward and heart rate increases from intravenous nicotine. Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2012, 37: 1509-16. PMID: 22334123, PMCID: PMC3327855, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2011.336.
- Opioid-induced analgesia among persons with opioid use disorder receiving methadone or buprenorphine: A systematic review of experimental pain studies.De Aquino JP, Parida S, Avila-Quintero VJ, Flores J, Compton P, Hickey T, Gómez O, Sofuoglu M. Opioid-induced analgesia among persons with opioid use disorder receiving methadone or buprenorphine: A systematic review of experimental pain studies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2021, 228: 109097. PMID: 34601272, PMCID: PMC8595687, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109097.
- Opioid use disorder with chronic pain increases disease burden and service use.MacLean RR, Sofuoglu M, Stefanovics E, Rosenheck R. Opioid use disorder with chronic pain increases disease burden and service use. Psychological Services 2021 PMID: 34968125, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000607.
- Impact of delivery rate on the acute response to intravenous nicotine: A human laboratory study with implications for regulatory science.De Aquino JP, MacLean RR, Gueorguieva R, DeVito EE, Eid T, Sofuoglu M. Impact of delivery rate on the acute response to intravenous nicotine: A human laboratory study with implications for regulatory science. Addiction Biology 2022, 27: e13161. PMID: 35229960, PMCID: PMC8903077, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13161.
- Threshold for the pleasurable effects of nicotine are lower than its reinforcing effects during self-administration.MacLean RR, Eid T, Parida S, Gueorguieva R, DeVito EE, Sofuoglu M. Threshold for the pleasurable effects of nicotine are lower than its reinforcing effects during self-administration. Experimental And Clinical Psychopharmacology 2022 PMID: 35254839, DOI: 10.1037/pha0000556.
- Plasma Menthol Glucuronide as a Biomarker for the Behavioral Effects of Menthol and Nicotine in Humans.Gueorguieva R, Schwartz EKC, MacLean RR, DeVito EE, Eid T, Wu R, O'Malley SS, Sofuoglu M. Plasma Menthol Glucuronide as a Biomarker for the Behavioral Effects of Menthol and Nicotine in Humans. Frontiers In Pharmacology 2022, 13: 844824. PMID: 35431934, PMCID: PMC9009207, DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.844824.
Clinical Trials
| Conditions | Study Title |
|---|---|
| Addictive Behaviors; Mental Health & Behavioral Research; Tobacco Addiction | E-cigarette Flavor and Nicotine Perception |
| Tobacco Addiction; COVID-19 Inpatient; COVID-19 Outpatient | Perinatal Attentional Retraining Intervention for Smoking (PARIS) |