One of the principal barriers to overcoming a
ddiction is the propensity to relapse, even after months or years of abstinence. Relapse can be precipitate
d by cues an
d contexts associate
d with
drug use; thus,
decreasing the con
ditione
d properties of these cues an
d contexts may assist in preventing relapse. The pre
dictive power of
drug cues an
d contexts can be re
duce
d by repeate
dly presenting them in the absence of the
drug reinforcer, a process known as extinction. The potential of extinction to limit relapse has generate
d consi
derable interest an
d research over the past few
deca
des. While pre-clinical animal mo
dels suggest extinction learning assists relapse prevention, treatment efficacy is often lacking when extinction learning principles are translate
d into clinical trials. Conklin an
d Tiffany (
Addiction, 2002) suggest the lack of efficacy in clinical practice may be
due to limite
d translation of proce
dures
demonstrate
d through animal research an
d propose several metho
dological improvements to enhance extinction learning for
drug a
ddiction. This review will examine recent a
dvances in the behavioural an
d pharmacological manipulation of extinction learning, base
d on research from pre-clinical mo
dels. In a
ddition, the translation of pre-clinical fin
dings&m
dash;both those suggeste
d by Conklin an
d Tiffany (
db12337-bib-0039" rel="references:#adb12337-bib-0039" class="link__reference js-link__reference" title="Link to bibliographic citation">2002) an
d novel
demonstrations from the past 13 years&m
dash;into clinical trials an
d the efficacy of these metho
ds in re
ducing craving an
d relapse, where available, will be
discusse
d. Finally, we highlight areas where promising pre-clinical mo
dels have not yet been integrate
d into current clinical practice but, if applie
d, coul
d improve upon existing behavioural an
d pharmacological metho
ds.