Article
Neurosciences
Verica Milivojevic, Liam Sullivan, Jessica Tiber, Nia Fogelman, Christine Simpson, Gretchen Hermes, Rajita Sinha
Summary: This study suggests that pregnenolone can reduce alcohol and stress-induced craving and normalize HPA axis and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Further assessment of pregnenolone in the treatment of AUD is warranted.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Verica Milivojevic, Lily Charron, Nia Fogelman, Gretchen Hermes, Rajita Sinha
Summary: Chronic cocaine use leads to adaptations in stress biology and the neuroactive steroid system. The study found that pregnenolone, a precursor to neuroactive steroids, decreases cocaine craving and anxiety, as well as reduces stress-induced autonomic arousal in individuals with cocaine use disorder.
Article
Psychiatry
Cathryn Glanton Holzhauer, Elizabeth E. Epstein, Laurel Bickar, Robyn A. Ellis, Nnamdi Pole, Mehmet Sofuoglu, David A. Smelson, Kristin Mattocks
Summary: Rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are increasing among women in the United States, and stress pathophysiology is central to the maintenance of alcohol misuse in this population. This pilot study explores the association between stress and alcohol misuse among female veterans using heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of stress regulation. The results suggest that HRV is positively associated with alcohol craving and use, providing potential insights for future research on the role of HRV as a biomarker for alcohol misuse among women.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Mats Hallgren, Matthew P. Herring, Davy Vancampfort, Minh Tuan Hoang, Victoria Andersson, Sven Andreasson, Ana M. Abrantes
Summary: The study found that short bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise help reduce cravings for alcohol in adults with AUD. Among them, those with higher cravings and lower cardiorespiratory fitness are most likely to benefit.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
R. Kathryn McHugh, Catherine D. Trinh, Margaret L. Griffin, Roger D. Weiss
Summary: The study extended prior psychometric analyses of the Craving Scale to a large sample of adults seeking treatment for substance use disorders (N = 1,283). Results indicated that the Craving Scale has good readability, strong internal consistency reliability, and adequate concurrent and discriminant validity. Analyses also showed similar results for alcohol and opioid craving, as well as for men and women, supporting measure invariance across these key groups.
ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sophie A. Ummels, Adrie Seldenrijk, Elisabeth H. Bos, Ron de Graaf, Neeltje M. Batelaan, Margreet ten Have
Summary: This study found a bidirectional relationship between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorder. Individuals with severe anxiety disorders are at a higher risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Review
Substance Abuse
Jo-Anne Puddephatt, Patricia Irizar, Andrew Jones, Suzanne H. Gage, Laura Goodwin
Summary: Individuals with common mental disorders (depression, anxiety, phobia) are twice as likely to report an alcohol use disorder compared to those without common mental disorders. There were no clear differences in the odds of having an AUD among different types of CMDs, and study characteristics did not provide clear explanations for heterogeneity in results. No distinct patterns were found in the associations between having a CMD and binge drinking or alcohol consumption, respectively.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Andreea Robe, Costina-Ruxandra Pasarelu, Anca Dobrean
Summary: This study investigated the dynamic vagal modulation of cardiac output in children and adolescents with ADHD, finding group differences in ANS functioning and noting a lack of adaptive physiological responses in ADHD patients following cognitive challenges.
Article
Substance Abuse
Mats Hallgren, Davy Vancampfort, Minh Tuan Hoang, Victoria Andersson, Orjan Ekblom, Sven Andreasson, Matthew P. Herring
Summary: Acute exercise has positive short-term effects on alcohol craving, mood states, and state anxiety in physically inactive, non-treatment seeking adults with AUD. The study found that a short bout of aerobic exercise can reduce alcohol craving and improve mood states, with these effects being maintained 30 minutes post-exercise.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ming-Fen Ho, Cheng Zhang, Irene Moon, Brandon J. J. Coombes, Joanna Biernacka, Michelle Skime, Doo-Sup Choi, Paul E. E. Croarkin, Mark A. A. Frye, Quyen Ngo, Cedric Skillon, Tyler S. S. Oesterle, Victor M. M. Karpyak, Hu Li, Richard M. M. Weinshilboum
Summary: This study aimed to identify biomarkers associated with acamprosate treatment response in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) using proteomics and RNA sequencing. The findings suggest that baseline plasma TNFSF10 concentration is associated with alcohol craving intensity and acamprosate treatment outcomes. In addition, inflammation-related pathways are highly associated with relapse during acamprosate treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Psychiatry
Massimiliano Mazza, Kornelius Kammler-Sucker, Tagrid Lemenager, Falk Kiefer, Bernd Lenz
Summary: Virtual reality technology has been widely used in mental health research, helping to understand the treatment mechanisms of addictive behaviors. Studies have shown that VR environments can simulate complex real-life scenarios, contributing to our understanding of the various factors influencing addictive behaviors. In the future, VR technology can further explore directions such as embodiment, eye-tracking, and neurobiological factors.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Kaloyan Stoychev, Dancho Dilkov, Elahe Naghavi, Zornitsa Kamburova
Summary: This paper reviews all genome-wide association studies conducted in the past ten years, sampling patients with AUD and co-occurring mood or anxiety disorder(s). The results support the significant overlap of genetic factors involved in AUDs and mood and anxiety disorders. Larger samples and re-sequencing approaches will be necessary to disentangle the genetic architecture of dual diagnosis.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rouhollah Qurishi, Joost P. H. Drenth, Cornelis A. J. De Jong
Summary: Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are associated with substance use disorder. The prevalence of PMS and PMDD is higher in women with substance use disorder than in the general population. Alcohol-related problems have a greater impact on craving in women with substance use disorder, while PMS symptoms mainly contribute to craving in this group.
Review
Psychiatry
Zach Walsh, Ozden Merve Mollaahmetoglu, Joseph Rootman, Shannon Golsof, Johanna Keeler, Beth Marsh, David J. Nutt, Celia J. A. Morgan
Summary: Ketamine has robust, rapid, and short-lived antidepressant and anti-suicidal effects, supported by systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Evidence for other indications is less strong, but suggests similarly positive and short-term effects. Further research is needed to examine optimal dosing, modes of administration, and effective forms of adjunctive psychotherapeutic support.
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Alexandra Ghita, Olga Hernandez-Serrano, Jolanda Fernandez-Ruiz, Manuel Moreno, Miquel Monras, Lluisa Ortega, Silvia Mondon, Lidia Teixidor, Antoni Gual, Mariano Gacto-Sanchez, Bruno Porras-Garcia, Marta Ferrer-Garcia, Jose Gutierrez-Maldonado
Summary: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a Virtual Reality Cue-Exposure Therapy in reducing levels of alcohol craving and anxiety and prompting changes in attentional bias towards alcohol content in individuals with alcohol use disorder. The results demonstrated a decrease in alcohol craving and anxiety levels, as well as a change in attentional bias towards alcohol content after the VR-CET intervention.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Psychiatry
Sara K. Blaine, Verica Milivojevic, Helen Fox, Rajita Sinha
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE PSYCHIATRIE
(2016)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Andrew C. Parrott, Luke A. Downey, Carl A. Roberts, Cathy Montgomery, Raimondo Bruno, Helen C. Fox
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Helen C. Fox, Verica Milivojevic, Gustavo A. Angarita, Raymond Stowe, Rajita Sinha
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2017)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
James E. Swain, S. Shaun Ho, Helen Fox, David Garry, Susanne Brummelte
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helen C. Fox, Verica Milivojevic, Alicia MacDougall, Heather LaVallee, Christine Simpson, Gustavo A. Angarita, Rajita Sinha
Article
Psychiatry
Rajita Sinha, Stephanie Wemm, Nia Fogelman, Verica Milivojevic, Peter M. Morgan, Gustavo A. Angarita, Gretchen Hermes, Helen C. Fox
Summary: This study examined the impact of alcohol withdrawal symptoms on the efficacy of prazosin in reducing alcohol intake. Results showed that individuals with high alcohol withdrawal symptoms on prazosin reported significant improvements in alcohol use outcomes and associated symptoms compared to those on placebo, while those with low or no alcohol withdrawal symptoms did not show such benefits. These findings support further evaluation of alcohol withdrawal symptoms as a prognostic indicator of prazosin's efficacy in treating AUD.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Diane J. Kim, Julianne Mirmina, Serah Narine, Jonathan Wachtel, Jessica M. Carbajal, Helen Fox, Ricardo Caceda
Summary: Several reports indicate an association between psychiatric disorders and altered pain sensitivity. The pain threshold is generally reduced in patients with major depression, while lower pain sensitivity is observed in individuals with schizophrenia. However, limited studies on posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders prevent clear conclusions. It is important to be aware of these pain perception abnormalities in psychiatric patients to improve their overall well-being.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Verica Milivojevic, Liam Sullivan, Jessica Tiber, Nia Fogelman, Christine Simpson, Gretchen Hermes, Rajita Sinha
Summary: This study suggests that pregnenolone can reduce alcohol and stress-induced craving and normalize HPA axis and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Further assessment of pregnenolone in the treatment of AUD is warranted.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Helen C. Fox, Asif Karim, Shariful A. Syed
CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Substance Abuse
Verica Milivojevic, Jonathan Covault, Gustavo A. Angarita, Kristen Siedlarz, Rajita Sinha
AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS
(2019)
Article
Substance Abuse
Verica Milivojevic, Helen C. Fox, Nitya Jayaram-Lindstrom, Gretchen Hermes, Rajita Sinha
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2017)
Article
Substance Abuse
Verica Milivojevic, Emily Ansell, Christine Simpson, Kristen M. Siedlarz, Rajita Sinha, Helen C. Fox
ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2017)
Meeting Abstract
Substance Abuse
Verica Milivojevic, Helen C. Fox, Jonathan Covault, Rajita Sinha
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2017)