Clinical Advances in the Neuropharmacological Treatment of Substance Use Disorders: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 January 2026 | Viewed by 533

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Human and Clinical Sciences, UniCamillus International University of Medical Sciences, Via di S. Alessandro 8, Rome, Italy
Interests: psychopharmacology; pharmacology; drug abuse; addiction; pharmacovigilance
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The clinical management of substance use disorders is becoming increasingly complex due to significant changes in drug use patterns over recent years. While traditional substances such as cannabis, cocaine, and opioids remain widely misused, clinicians are now encountering a growing number of cases involving the misuse of prescription medications for non-medical, psychoactive purposes (“pharming”) and the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). These trends have introduced new diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in emergency, psychiatric, and addiction care settings.The clinical effects of these substances can range from transient behavioural disturbances to life-threatening toxicity, influenced by dose, the route of administration, and concurrent substance use. In many cases, the limited information about the pharmacological properties, toxicological profiles, and drug–drug interactions complicates intervention and makes timely diagnosis difficult. As a result, clinicians are increasingly required to stay informed about evolving drug trends, detection methods, and emerging therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue focuses on clinically relevant advances in the neuropharmacology and toxicology of substance use disorders. It aims to support healthcare professionals in improving the identification, risk assessment, and the treatment of individuals affected by both traditional and emerging substances of abuse.The journal Pharmaceuticals invites the submissions of reviews, meta-analyses, clinical case series, and original research articles. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:·       

  • Clinical neuropharmacology and toxicology of substances of abuse;
  • Pharmacological and behavioural treatment strategies for substance use disorders;
  • Emerging drug trends, including prescription misuse and NPS;
  • Clinical screening, diagnostic tools, and early intervention approaches. 

Accepted articles will be published as part of this Special Issue.

Dr. Stefania Chiappini
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • neuropharmacology
  • drug abuse
  • addiction
  • substance abuse

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 869 KiB  
Article
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Muscle Dysmorphia and Anabolic Steroid-Related Psychopathology: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Metin Çınaroğlu, Eda Yılmazer, Selami Varol Ülker and Gökben Hızlı Sayar
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(8), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18081081 - 22 Jul 2025
Viewed by 441
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Muscle dysmorphia (MD), a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder, is prevalent among males who engage in the non-medical use of anabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). These individuals often experience severe psychopathology, including mood instability, compulsivity, and a distorted body [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Muscle dysmorphia (MD), a subtype of body dysmorphic disorder, is prevalent among males who engage in the non-medical use of anabolic–androgenic steroids (AASs) and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). These individuals often experience severe psychopathology, including mood instability, compulsivity, and a distorted body image. Despite its clinical severity, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated structured psychological treatments in this subgroup. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol in reducing MD symptoms and associated psychological distress among male steroid users. Results: Participants in the CBT group showed significant reductions in MD symptoms from the baseline to post-treatment (MDDI: p < 0.001, d = 1.12), with gains sustained at follow-up. Large effect sizes were also observed in secondary outcomes including depressive symptoms (PHQ-9: d = 0.98), psychological distress (K10: d = 0.93), disordered eating (EDE-Q: d = 0.74), and exercise addiction (EAI: d = 1.07). No significant changes were observed in the control group. Significant group × time interactions were found for all outcomes (all p < 0.01), indicating CBT’s specific efficacy. Discussion: This study provides the first RCT evidence that CBT significantly reduces both core MD symptoms and steroid-related psychopathology in men engaged in AAS/PED misuse. Improvements extended to mood, body image perception, and compulsive exercise behaviors. These findings support CBT’s transdiagnostic applicability in addressing both the cognitive–behavioral and affective dimensions of MD. Materials and Methods: In this parallel-group, open-label RCT, 59 male gym-goers with DSM-5-TR diagnoses of MD and a history of AAS/PED use were randomized to either a 12-week CBT intervention (n = 30) or a waitlist control group (n = 29). CBT sessions were delivered weekly online and targeted distorted muscularity beliefs, compulsive behaviors, and emotional dysregulation. Primary and secondary outcomes—Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI), PHQ-9, K10, EDE-Q, EAI, and BIG—were assessed at the baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. A repeated-measures ANOVA and paired t-tests were used to analyze time × group interactions. Conclusions: CBT offers an effective, scalable intervention for individuals with muscle dysmorphia complicated by anabolic steroid use. It promotes broad psychological improvement and may serve as a first-line treatment option in high-risk male fitness populations. Future studies should examine long-term outcomes and investigate implementation in diverse clinical and cultural contexts. Full article
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