Chunk #59 — 5. Procedures for evaluating pharmacological treatments targeting alcohol abuse and dependence — 5.4. Relapse of ethanol drinking in the home-cage
Alcohol abuse and dependence are considered chronic relapsing disorders, such that 60–80 percent of abstinent alcoholics will relapse during their lifetime (Barrick and Connors, 2002; Chiauzzi, 1991; Jaffe, 2002; Weiss et al., 2001). Thus, an animal model of alcoholism ought to demonstrate this feature of the clinical picture as well (McBride and Li, 1998). Although a number of criteria for relapse have been put forth (Barrick and Connors, 2002; Chiauzzi, 1991; Jaffe, 2002; Weiss et al., 2001), the primary criterion holds that a return to levels of ethanol consumption equal to or greater than that observed prior to abstinence constitutes a relapse. As discussed by Rodd et al. (2004b), the ADE is one and probably the most often used measure of ethanol relapse-drinking behavior in rats. The ADE is defined as a temporary increase in the ratio of alcohol/total fluid intake and/or voluntary intake of ethanol solutions over baseline (prior to the deprivation period) levels when ethanol is reinstated following a period of alcohol deprivation (Sinclair and Senter, 1967). The aripiprazole study, mentioned above, also examined the drug’s effects on
