Anne Marije Kaag

The role of the serotonergic system in the development and treatment of cocaine dependence

The aim of this project is to investigate the role of serotonin transporter gene variations in the development and treatment of cocaine dependence. The focus of this study is to investigate whether inherited serotonin transporter down regulation predisposes to cocaine dependence due to impaired prefrontal top-down control over the amygdala and related heightened sensitivity for stressful or drug-related stimuli.