Gerardo Gonzalez, MD

Associate Professor of Psychiatry

Director, Addiction Psychopharmacology Research

Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program

Director, Addiction & Comorbidity Treatment Service (ACTS)

gerardo.gonzalez@umassmed.edu

Education

1978, BC, Colegio San Viator, Bogotá, Colombia

1984, MD, Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario Bogotá, Colombia

1989, Psychiatry Residency, Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia

1992, DAB, Addiction Behaviour, University of London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

1996, Psychiatry Residency, Yale University, New Haven, CT

2001, Addiction Psychiatry Fellow, Yale University, New Haven, CT

Research Interest

The clinical research that our group has been conducting has focused on the neurobiology and pharmacotherapy for cocaine and opioid dependence. The series of studies have evaluated the extent that enhancing GABA neurotransmission may have in modifying cocaine and opiate taking behavior. In addition, we are interested in understanding whether modulation of glutamate neurotransmission by an uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist during opioid agonist treatment may improve treatment outcomes and reduce early relapse in young adults with opiate dependence. The study is expected to provide valuable information whether co-administration of memantine to buprenorphine treatment will modify components of opioid dependence, and therefore become a time-limited alternative to the long term agonist maintenance treatment for young opioid dependent adults.

Publications

Gonzalez G, Desai R, Sofuoglu M, Poling J, Oliveto A, Gonsai K, and Kosten TR.(2007) Clinical efficacy of gabapentin versus tiagabine for reducing cocaine use among cocaine dependent methadone-treated patients. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 89, 1-9

Gonzalez G, Oliveto A, Kosten TR. (2004) Combating opiate dependence: a comparison among the available pharmacological options.Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2004 Apr;5(4):713-25. Review

Gonzalez G, Sevarino K, Sofuoglu M, Poling J, Oliveto A, Gonsai K , George TP and Kosten TR. (2003) Tiagabine increases cocaine free urines in cocaine-dependent methadone treated patients: results of a randomized pilot study. Addiction; 98, 1625-1632.

Gonzalez G, Feingold A, Oliveto A, Gonsai K and Kosten TR. (2003) Comorbid major depressive disorder as a prognostic factor in cocaine-abusing buprenorphine-maintained patients treated with desipramine and contingency management. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse; 29(3):497-514