Repeated amphetamine injections alter behavior and induce a delayed behavioral sensitization modulated by reactivity to novelty: Similarities and differences with trauma consequences

Our results showed that massed amphetamine injections induced more anxiety than distributed injections, and led to avoidance of drug-associated cues avoidance, while distributed injections somewhat reduced the startle response, such as is seen in SPS. In addition, massed amphetamine injections induced a delayed behavioral sensitization clearly affected by the reactivity to novelty, reproducing results observed following exposure to traumatic events. Finally, all rats receiving repeated amphetamine injections exhibited a behavioral sensitization in response to exposure to drug-associated cues. Taken together, these data strengthen the position that drug addiction and PTSD share some common mechanisms that we tried to clarify in this paper.