People
Background:
Dr. de Wit obtained her PhD in Experimental Psychology from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, in 1981. Since then she has been associated with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Chicago, where she is currently Professor and Director of the Human Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory. In addition to her role as Principal Investigator for several NIH-funded research projects, Dr. de Wit serves as Field Editor for the journal Psychopharmacology and Deputy Editor for Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. She is a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration and serves on several scientific advisory boards at other institutions. In 1999 she received the Solvay Award for Outstanding Basic Psychopharmacological Research in Affective Disorders, and in 2009 she received the Marian W. Fischman Memorial Lectureship Award.
Research Interests:
Dr. de Wit's research focuses on the physiological, subjective (i.e., mood-altering) and behavioral effects of drugs in healthy human volunteers. Current projects in her laboratory include: i) investigating individual differences in responses to drugs, including genetic factors that influence drug responses, ii) examining interactions between acute stress and responses to drugs, and iii) studying the effects of drugs on impulsive behavior and risk-taking. The studies are designed to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying motivated behavior and of the processes underlying drug and alcohol use. Ultimately, we hope that studies such as these will lead to better approaches to preventing and treating drug abuse.
Recent Publications 2008-2011:
King, A.C., D. Cao, S.S. O’Malley, H.R. Kranzler, X. Cai, H. de Wit, A.K. Matthews, R.J. Stachoviak. (in press) Efficacy of naltrexone on smoking cessation quit rates and weight gain in men and women. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Hart, A., H. de Wit, & A.A. Palmer (2012) Genetic Factors Modulating the Response to Stimulant Drugs in Humans.Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences.PMID:22261702.
Yip, S.W., J. Doherty, J. Wakeley, K. Saunders, C. Tzagarakis, H. de Wit, G.M. Goodwin, R.D. Rogers. (2012) Reduced subjective response to acute ethanol administration among young people with the bipolar phenotype. Neuropsychopharmacology. PMID:22491350.
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2012) Contextual conditioning enhances the psychostimulant and incentive properties of d-amphetamine in humans. Addiction Biology. PMID: 22129527.
Palmer, A.A., H. de Wit (2012) Translational genetic approaches to substance use disorders: bridging the gap between mice and humans. Human Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s00439-011-1123-5. PMID: 22170288.
Rabinak, C., C. Sripada, C.M. Angstadt, H. de Wit, and K.L. Phan. (2012) Cannabinoid modulation of subgenual anterior cingulate cortex activation during experience of negative affect. Journal of Neural Transmission. PMID:22160489.
Ballard, M.E., Gallo, D.A., and de Wit, H. (2012) Psychoactive drugs and false memory: comparison of dextroamphetamine and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on false recognition.Psychopharmacology PMID:21647577.
Wardle, M.C., H. de Wit (2012) Effects of amphetamine on responses to positive emotional stimuli. Psychopharmacology. PMID: 21947316
Wardle, M.C., A. Yang, H. de Wit(2012) Effect of d-amphetamine on post-error slowing in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology. PMID: 21894485
Wardle, M., M. Munafo, & de Wit, H. (2011) Effect of social stress during acute nicotine abstinence. Psychopharmacology. PMID: 21234550
Childs, E., S. O'Connor, H. de Wit (2011) Bidirectional interactions between acute psychosocial stress and acute IV alcohol. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. PMID: 21762177.
Wignall, N. H. de Wit (2011) Effects of nicotine on cognition and behavioral inhibition in healthy nonsmokers. Experimental Clinical Psychopharmacology. 19,183-91. PMID: 21480731
Dlugos, A.M., A. Hamidovic, C.A. Hodgkinson, S. Pei-Hong, D. Goldman, A.A. Palmer, & de Wit, H. (2011) OPRM1 gene variants modulate amphetamine-induced euphoria in humans. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 10, 199-209 PMID: 2102937
King, A, H. de Wit, P. McNamara, & D.-C. Cao (2011). Stimulant and sedative alcohol responses and relationship to future drinking. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68, 389-399. PMID: 21464363
Ballard, M.E., D.A. Gallo, & de Wit, H. (2011) Psychoactive drugs and false memory: Comparison of dextroamphetamine and delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol on false recognition. Psychopharmacology. PMID: 21647577
Ballard, M., & de Wit, H. (2011). Combined effects of acute, very-low-dose ethanol and delta(9)- tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy human volunteers. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 97, 627-31. PMC3018238
Bedi, G., K.L. Preston, D.H. Epstein, S.J. Heishman, G.F Marrone, Y. Shaham, & de Wit, H. (2011) Incubation of cue-induced cigarette craving during abstinence in human smokers. Biological Psychiatry, 69, 708-11 PMID: 20817135
Mueller, D. and H. de Wit (2011). Conditioned place preference in rodents and humans. Neuromethods, 50, 133-152.
Ballard, M., H. de Wit (2011). Combined effects of acute, very-low-dose ethanol and delta(9)- tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy human volunteers. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 97, 627-31. PMC3018238
Bedi, G., K.L. Preston, D.H. Epstein, S.J. Heishman, G.F Marrone, Y. Shaham, H. de Wit (2011) Incubation of cue-induced cigarette craving during abstinence in human smokers. Biological Psychiatry, 69, 708-11 PMID: 20817135
Wardle, M., K. Cederbaum, H. de Wit (2010) Quantifying talk: Developing reliable measures of verbal productivity. Behavior Research Methods, 43:168-178 PMID: 21287128
Hamidovic, A. A.M. Dlugos, A.A. Palmer, H, de Wit (2010) Polymorphisms in dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) are associated with stimulant effects of d-amphetamine - an exploratory pharmacogenetic study using healthy volunteers. Behavior Genetics, 40, 255-260. PMID: 20091113
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2010) Cardiovascular, hormonal and emotional responses to the TSST in relation to sex and menstrual cycle phase. Psychophysiology, 47, 550-9 PMID: 20070572
Childs, E., N.T. Van Dam, H. de Wit (2010) Effects of acute progesterone administration upon responses to acute psychosocial stress in men. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18, 78-86. PMID: 20158297
Dlugos, A.M., A. Hamidovic, C.A. Hodgkinson, D. Goldman, A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) More aroused, less fatigued: FAAH gene polymorphisms influence acute response to amphetamine.Neuropsychopharmacology, 35, 613-22. PMID: 19890266
Porcu, P, T.K. O'Buckley, S.E. Alward, K.A. Grant, H. de Wit, A.L. Morrow (2010) Differential effects of ethanol on serum GABAergic 3α,5α/3α,5β neuroactive steroids in mice, rats, Cynomolgus monkeys and humans. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 34, 432-42. PMID: 20028362
McCloskey, M., A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) Is self-reported liking of d-amphetamine related to impulsivity? Psychopharmacology,208, 201-9. PMID: 19936714
Hamidovic, A., E. Childs, M. Conrad, A. King, H. de Wit (2010) Stress-induced changes in mood and cortisol release predict mood effects of amphetamine. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 109, 175-180. PMID: 20176450
Hamidovic, A. A.M. Dlugos, A.A. Palmer, H, de Wit (2010) Catechol-O-methyltransferase val158met genotype modulates sustained attention in both the drug-free state and in response to amphetamine, Psychiatr Genet. 20, 85-92. PMID: 20414144
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2010) Effects of acute psychosocial stress on cigarette craving and smoking. Nicotine and Tobacco Research,12, 449-53. PMID: 20100807
Vaughn, L, G. Denning, K. Stuhr, H, de Wit, M.N. Hill, C.J. Hillard (2010) Endocannabinoid signalling: Has it got rhythm? British Journal of Pharmacology, 160 530-43. PMID:20590563
Lejuez, C.W., J.R. Magidson, S.H. Mitchell, R. Sinha, M. Stevens, H. de Wit (2010) Behavioral and biological indicators of impulsivity in the development of alcohol use, problems, and disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 34. PMID:20491733
Yang, A., A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) Genetics of caffeine consumption and responses to caffeine. Psychopharmacology, 211 245-257. PMID:20532872
Mahler, S.V., H de Wit (2010). Cue-Reactors: Individual differences in cue-induced craving after food or smoking abstinence. PLoS ONE, 5:e15475 PMID: 21085667
Bedi, G., D. Hyman, H. de Wit (2010). Is ecstasy an "empathogen"? MDMA increases social feelings but blunts identification of negative emotions in others. Biological Psychiatry, 68, 1134-40. PMID: 20947066
Hamidovic, A. A.M. Dlugos, A.A. Palmer, H, de Wit (2010) Polymorphisms in dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) are associated with stimulant effects of d-amphetamine - an exploratory pharmacogenetic study using healthy volunteers. Behavior Genetics 40, 255-260. PMID: 20091113
Effects of acute progesterone administration upon responses to acute psychosocial stress in men. Experimental Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18, 78-86. PMID: 20158297Dlugos, A.M., A. Hamidovic, C.A. Hodgkinson, D. Goldman, A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) More aroused, less fatigued: FAAH gene polymorphisms influence acute response to amphetamine. Neuropsychopharmacology , 35, 613-22. PMID: 19890266
Porcu, P, T.K. O'Buckley, S.E. Alward, K.A. Grant, H. de Wit, A.L. Morrow (2010) Differential effects of ethanol on serum GABAergic 3α,5α/3α,5β neuroactive steroids in mice, rats, Cynomolgus monkeys and humans. Alcoholism: Clinical Experimental Research, 34, 432-42 PMID: 20028362
McCloskey, M., A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) Is self-reported liking of d-amphetamine related to impulsivity? Psychopharmacology, 208, 201-9. PMID: 19936714
Hamidovic, A., E. Childs, M. Conrad, A. King, H. de Wit (2010) Stress-induced changes in mood and cortisol release predict mood effects of amphetamine. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 109 175-180. PMC2875349
Yang, A., A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2010) Genetics of caffeine consumption and caffeine response. Psychopharmacology, 211, 245 - 257. PMID: 20532872
Childs, E., A.M. Dlugos, H. de Wit (2010) Cardiovascular, hormonal, and emotional responses to the TSST in relation to sex and menstrual cycle phase. Psychophysiology, 47 550 - 55. PMID: 20070572
Hamidovic, A. A.M. Dlugos, A.A. Palmer, H, de Wit (2010). Catechol-O-methyltransferase val158met genotype modulates sustained attention in both the drug-free state and in response to amphetamine. Psychiatric Genetics, 25, 85-92. PMC2875066
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2010). Acute psychosocial stress increases cigarette craving and smoking pleasure. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 12, 449-453. PMC2847070
Vaughn, L, Denning, G, Stuhr, K., de Wit, H., Hill, M.N., Hillard, C.J. (2010). Endocannabinoid signaling: Has it got rhythm? British Journal of Pharmacology, 160, 530-43. PMID: 20590563
Lejuez, C.W., J.R. Magidson, S.H. Mitchell, R. Sinha, M. Stevens, H. de Wit. (2010). Behavioral and biological indicators of impulsivity in the development of alcohol use disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 34, 1334- 45. PMID: 20491733
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2009) Hormonal, cardiovascular and subjective responses to acute stress in smokers. Psychopharmacology, 203, 1-12. PMID: 18936915
de Wit, H. (2009) Impulsivity as a determinant and consequence of drug use: A review of underlying processes . Addiction Biology, 14, 22-31. PMID: 18855805
Bornovalova M.A., Cashman-Rolls A., O'Donnell J.M., Ettinger K., Richards J.B., de Wit H, Lejuez CW (2009) Risk taking differences on a behavioral task as a function of potential reward/loss magnitude and individual differences in impulsivity and sensation seeking. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 93, 258-262. PMID: 19041886
Childs, E., H. de Wit (2009) Amphetamine-induced place preference in humans. Biological Psychiatry, 65, 900-4. PMID: 19111278
Hamidovic, A., H. de Wit. (2009) Sleep deprivation increases smoking. Pharmacol, Biochem Behav, 93, 263-9. PMID: 19133287
Dlugos, A.M., A. Hamidovic, A.D. Skol, A.A. Palmer, H, de Wit (2009) Further evidence of association between amphetamine response and SLC6A2 gene variants. Psychopharmacology, 206:501-11. PMID: 19890266
Hamidovic, A., A. Dlugos, A. Skol, A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2009) Evaluation of genetic variability in the dopamine D2 receptor in relation to behavioral inhibition and impulsivity/sensation seeking: an exploratory study with d-amphetamine in healthy participants. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 17, 374-83. PMID: 19968402
Bedi, G, K.L. Phan, M. Angstadt, H. de Wit (2009) Effects of MDMA on sociability and neural response to social threat and social reward. Psychopharmacology, 207, 73-83. PMID: 19680634
Zacny, J.P., H. de Wit (2009) The prescription opioid, oxycodone, does not alter behavioral measures of impulsivity in healthy volunteers. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 94, 108-13. PMID: 19660489
Dlugos, A.M., J. Badner, A.A. Palmer, H. de Wit (2009) Negative Emotionality: Monoamine oxidase B gene variants modulate personality traits in healthy humans. Journal of Neural Transmission, 116:, 323-34. PMID: 19657584
Childs E, de Wit H. (2008) Enhanced mood and psychomotor performance by a caffeine-containing energy capsule in fatigued individuals. Exp Clin Psychopharmac. 16, 13-21. PMID: 18266548
Hamidovic, A., Kang, U., de Wit, H. (2008) Effects of low to moderate acute doses of pramipexole on impulsivity and cognition in healthy volunteers. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 28, 45-51. PMID: 18204340
Childs A., C. Hohoff, C., J. Deckert, X. Ke, J. Badner, H. de Wit (2008) Association between A1, A2a and DRD2 receptor gene polymorphisms and caffeine-induced anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33, 2791-800. PMID: 18305461
Phan, K.L., M. Angstadt, J. Golden, I. Onyewuenyi, A. Popovska, H. de Wit (2008) Cannabinoid modulation of amygdala reactivity to social signals of threat in humans. The Journal of Neuroscience, 28, 2313-2319. PMID: 18322078
Acheson, A., H. de Wit (2008) Bupropion improves attention but does not affect impulsive behavior in healthy men and women. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16, 113-123. PMID: 18489015
Miczek, K.A., H. de Wit (2008) Challenges for translational psychopharmacology research - Some basic principles . Psychopharmacology, 199, 291-301 PMID: 18523737
White, T.L., C.W. Lejuez, H. de Wit (2008) Personality and gender differences in effects of d-amphetamine on risk-taking. Experimental Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16, 565-570. PMID: 19086777