acamprosate

n. an analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) used in the management of alcohol dependence. Although exact mechanisms of action are unclear, acamprosate may act by directly binding to the GABA receptor complex (see GABA_A receptorgabaa-receptor; GABA_B receptorgabab-receptor); it may also act by inhibiting the actions of the excitatory amino acid glutamate, for example by inhibiting NMDA receptors. When administered in combination with behavioral treatments, it has some efficacy in reducing alcohol intake or increasing alcohol-free periods in people recovering from alcohol dependence. U.S. trade name: Campral.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

nonadditive

adj. describing values or measurements that cannot be meaningfully summarized through addition because the resulting total does not correctly reflect the underlying properties of and associations between the component values. For example, if two variables a and b interact to influence another variable y, the addition of the separate effects of a and b will not equal the total effect since the contribution of the interaction needs to be included. Compare additive.