Albert J. Arias, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Psychiatrist

Dr. Arias works in the Clinical Research and Evaluation Unit component of the Alcohol Research Center, the Partial Hospital Program, the Intensive Outpatient Program, and on the electroconvulsive therapy service. His current research focuses primarily on pharmacological treatment of alcohol dependence, (particularly the use of anticonvulsants) and pharmacogenetics. Other areas of clinical and research work include addiction medicine, dual diagnosis treatment, deep brain stimulation, other biological treatments for psychiatric and addictive disorders.

Representative Publications:

Arias AJ, Armeli S, Gelerntner J, Covault J, Kallio A, Karhuvaara S, Koivisto T, Makela R, Kranzler HR. Effects of Opioid Receptor Gene Variation on Targeted Nalmefene Treatment in Heavy Drinkers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2008 July; 32(7):1159-66.

Arias A, Feinn R, Kranzler HR: Association of an Asn40Asp (A118G)polymorphism in the mu-opioid receptor gene with substance dependence: A meta-analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 Jul 27;83(3):262-8. Epub 2006 Jan 4.

Arias AJ, Feinn R, Covault J, Kranzler HR: Open-label study of memantine for alcohol dependence. Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment. Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment. 2007 June; 6(2): 77-83

Arias AJ, Kranzler HR. Treatment of Co-occurring Alcohol and Other Drug Use Disorders. Alcohol Research and Health. 2008, 38 (2):155-67.

Kranzler HR, Covault JM, Pierucci-Lagha A, Chan G, Douglas K, Arias AJ, Oncken C: Effects of aripiprazole on subjective and physiological responses to alcohol. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2008 Apr;32(4):573-9.

Kranzler HK, Gelernter J, Anton RF, Arias AJ, Herman A, Zhao H, Burian L, Covault J: Association of the GluR5 Kainate Receptor Subunit Gene (GRIK1) to Alcohol Dependence. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2009. 33:1-6.

Arias AJ, Gelerntner J, Chan G, Weiss R, Brady KT, Farrer L, Kranzler HR. Correlates of co-occurring ADHD in drug-dependent subjects: prevalence and features of substance dependence and psychiatric disorders. Addictive Behaviors. 2008 Sep;33(9):1199-207.

Awards/Distinctions:

2010, NIAAA K23 Career Development Award, Mentored Patient Oriented Research. Alcohol Dependence: Pharmacotherapy, Pharmacogenetics, and Genetics.

2009, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Minority Research Travel Award.

2008, American Psychiatric Association Research Colloquium for Junior Investigators.

2005, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry Research Award (based on work in the addictions for resident, fellow, and early-career level investigators).