Determinants of the behavioral effects of opioids and their antagonists: Contributions of the Laboratory of Psychobiology

Rationale: The behavioral pharmacology of opioids has been influenced significantly by the research and writings of Drs. Peter B. Dews, Roger T. Kelleher, and William H. Morse, their colleagues, and their students. Objective: Their conceptual and methodological approach to the topic is reviewed briefly, and three areas of research are described to provide an empirical perspective. Results: The objective of determining the general effects of opioids on behavior is described; the effects of opioids on schedule-controlled behavior and punished behavior are described and compared to non-opioids. The differential effects of opioid antagonists on responding reinforced by different stimuli are also presented. Conclusion: The conceptual and methodological approach taken by the group, as well as their discoveries in the behavioral pharmacology of opioids, will continue to exert a positive influence on the field.