Thesis
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT ON MORPHINE WITHDRAWAL BEHAVIORS AND THE NEUROIMMUNE RESPONSE ACROSS SEXES
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000007473
Abstract
Substance use disorders are devasting diseases with widespread impacts on individual and public health. Characterized by severe withdrawal, high relapse rates, and the serious risk for overdose, opioid abuse is a particularly challenging subset of substance use disorder to address. Due to financial limitations, lack of accessibility, substantial stigma, and the neurophysiological and psychological complexities underlying this disorder, the current treatment landscape struggles to achieve prolonged recovery from opioid use disorder. My goal is to contribute to the ongoing scientific exploration of this disorder by conducting a systematic analysis of hyperbaric oxygen treatment parameters that effectively reduce somatic morphine withdrawal, coupled with an investigation into the underlying mechanisms by which hyperbaric oxygen mitigates these symptoms. My research validates hyperbaric oxygen as a promising treatment for reducing the physical withdrawal symptoms that accompany opioid detoxification through targeting the neuroinflammatory response induced by opioid exposure. I begin to bridge the knowledge gaps surrounding morphine withdrawal, opioid-induced neuroinflammation, and hyperbaric oxygen treatment in hopes of providing insight on how to combat the disorder more effectively, prevent relapse, reduce overdoses, and promote improved public health.
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Details
- Title
- ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT ON MORPHINE WITHDRAWAL BEHAVIORS AND THE NEUROIMMUNE RESPONSE ACROSS SEXES
- Creators
- Meg Teresa Southard
- Contributors
- Travis Brown (Chair)Giuseppe Giannotti (Committee Member)Shane Hentges (Committee Member)Raymond Quock (Committee Member)Gary Wayman (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Program in Neuroscience
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 99
- Identifiers
- 99901220323301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis