Decreased Serum Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Level in Internet Gaming Disorder

Overview

Journal Psychiatry Investig

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2024 Aug 1

PMID 39089701

Authors

Ara Cho

Heejin Lee

Dong Huey Cheon

So Young Yoo

Arom Pyeon

Ji-Won Chun

Ji Hyun Back

Yae Eun Park

Dai-Jin Kim

Ji Eun Lee

Jung-Seok Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Vulnerability to internet gaming disorder (IGD) has increased as internet gaming continues to grow. Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a hormone that plays a role in reward, anxiety, and stress. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of CART in the pathophysiology of IGD.

Methods: The serum CART levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the associations of the serum CART level with psychological variables were analyzed in patients with IGD (n=31) and healthy controls (HC) (n=42).

Results: The serum CART level was significantly lower in the IGD than HC group. The IGD group scored significantly higher than the HC group on the psychological domains of depression, anxiety, the reward response in the Behavioral Activation System and Behavioral Inhibition System. There were no significant correlations between serum CART level and other psychological variables in the IGD group.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that a decrease in the expression of the serum CART level is associated with the vulnerability of developing IGD. This study supports the possibility that CART is a biomarker in the pathophysiology of IGD.

References

Nakhate K, Kokare D, Singru P, Subhedar N . Central regulation of feeding behavior during social isolation of rat: evidence for the role of endogenous CART system. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010; 35(6):773-84. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2010.231. View

Zhang Y, Ndasauka Y, Hou J, Chen J, Yang L, Wang Y . Cue-induced Behavioral and Neural Changes among Excessive Internet Gamers and Possible Application of Cue Exposure Therapy to Internet Gaming Disorder. Front Psychol. 2016; 7:675. PMC: 4860503. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00675. View

Peltzer K, Pengpid S, Apidechkul T . Heavy Internet use and its associations with health risk and health-promoting behaviours among Thai university students. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2014; 26(2):187-94. DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2013-0508. View

Younes F, Halawi G, Jabbour H, El Osta N, Karam L, Hajj A . Internet Addiction and Relationships with Insomnia, Anxiety, Depression, Stress and Self-Esteem in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Designed Study. PLoS One. 2016; 11(9):e0161126. PMC: 5019372. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161126. View

Yu C, Zhou X, Fu Q, Peng Q, Oh K, Hu Z . A New Insight into the Role of CART in Cocaine Reward: Involvement of CaMKII and Inhibitory G-Protein Coupled Receptor Signaling. Front Cell Neurosci. 2017; 11:244. PMC: 5559471. DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00244. View

Zhu Y, Zhang H, Tian M . Molecular and functional imaging of internet addiction. Biomed Res Int. 2015; 2015:378675. PMC: 4388011. DOI: 10.1155/2015/378675. View

Lim J, Lee J, Jung H, Sohn B, Choi S, Kim Y . Changes of quality of life and cognitive function in individuals with Internet gaming disorder: A 6-month follow-up. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016; 95(50):e5695. PMC: 5268066. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000005695. View

Meng Y, Deng W, Wang H, Guo W, Li T . The prefrontal dysfunction in individuals with Internet gaming disorder: a meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Addict Biol. 2014; 20(4):799-808. DOI: 10.1111/adb.12154. View

Wiehager S, Beiderbeck D, Gruber S, El-Khoury A, Wamsteeker J, Neumann I . Increased levels of cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript in two animal models of depression and anxiety. Neurobiol Dis. 2009; 34(2):375-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.02.010. View

10.

Spada M . An overview of problematic internet use. Addict Behav. 2013; 39(1):3-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.09.007. View

11.

Zhang M, Han L, Xu Y . Roles of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the central nervous system. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2011; 39(6):586-92. DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2011.05642.x. View

12.

Choi J, Park S, Roh M, Lee J, Park C, Hwang J . Dysfunctional inhibitory control and impulsivity in Internet addiction. Psychiatry Res. 2013; 215(2):424-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.12.001. View

13.

Dong G, Potenza M . A cognitive-behavioral model of Internet gaming disorder: theoretical underpinnings and clinical implications. J Psychiatr Res. 2014; 58:7-11. PMC: 4448942. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.07.005. View

14.

Kim Y, Kim D, Choi J . The cognitive dysregulation of Internet addiction and its neurobiological correlates. Front Biosci (Elite Ed). 2017; 9(2):307-320. DOI: 10.2741/e804. View

15.

Rogge G, Jones D, Hubert G, Lin Y, Kuhar M . CART peptides: regulators of body weight, reward and other functions. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008; 9(10):747-58. PMC: 4418456. DOI: 10.1038/nrn2493. View

16.

Douglass J, Daoud S . Characterization of the human cDNA and genomic DNA encoding CART: a cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript. Gene. 1996; 169(2):241-5. DOI: 10.1016/0378-1119(96)88651-3. View

17.

Kuhar M, Adams S, Dominguez G, Jaworski J, Balkan B . CART peptides. Neuropeptides. 2002; 36(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1054/npep.2002.0887. View

18.

Alloy L, Abramson L, Walshaw P, Cogswell A, Grandin L, Hughes M . Behavioral Approach System and Behavioral Inhibition System sensitivities and bipolar spectrum disorders: prospective prediction of bipolar mood episodes. Bipolar Disord. 2008; 10(2):310-22. DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2007.00547.x. View

19.

Dong G, Hu Y, Lin X . Reward/punishment sensitivities among internet addicts: Implications for their addictive behaviors. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2013; 46:139-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.07.007. View

20.

Ahmadian-Moghadam H, Sadat-Shirazi M, Zarrindast M . Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART): A multifaceted neuropeptide. Peptides. 2018; 110:56-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2018.10.008. View