Verica Milivojevic, PhD
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2023
Laboratory and Real-World Experimental Approaches to Understanding Alcohol Relapse
Milivojevic V, Sinha R. Laboratory and Real-World Experimental Approaches to Understanding Alcohol Relapse. Current Topics In Behavioral Neurosciences 2023, 1-25. PMID: 37985542, DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_456.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol use disorderUse disordersHuman laboratory proceduresHuman laboratory modelRelapse riskAlcohol cuesBiobehavioral markersPsychobiological mechanismsStress dysregulationChronic alcohol useAlcohol relapseAlcohol useEffective interventionsNovel interventionsStress biologyReal worldDisordersInterventionCuesSignificant implicationsSignificant treatment challengeHigher relapse riskAUDRisk factorsAdaptationTherapeutics for Substance-Using Women: The Need to Elucidate Sex-Specific Targets for Better-Tailored Treatments
Fox H, Milivojevic V, Sinha R. Therapeutics for Substance-Using Women: The Need to Elucidate Sex-Specific Targets for Better-Tailored Treatments. Handbook Of Experimental Pharmacology 2023, 282: 127-161. PMID: 37592081, DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_687.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance-using womenExogenous progesteroneBetter tailor treatmentsStress-induced cravingFace of stressSex-specific targetsGender-related differencesAdrenergic medicationsStress-related adaptationClinical trialsSpecific treatmentMedication developmentAlcohol consumptionCompulsive drugBiobehavioral mechanismsDrinking historyMedical problemsInnovative medicationsMedicationsNovel targetWomenGuanfacineProgesteroneTreatmentEfficacyHypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and autonomic response to psychological stress in abstinent alcohol use disorder individuals with and without depressive symptomatology
Syed S, Sinha R, Milivojevic V, MacDougall A, LaValle H, Angarita G, Fox H. Hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and autonomic response to psychological stress in abstinent alcohol use disorder individuals with and without depressive symptomatology. Human Psychopharmacology Clinical And Experimental 2023, 38: e2867. PMID: 37165544, DOI: 10.1002/hup.2867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderRelapse riskDepressive symptomatologyDepressive symptomsAutonomic responsesIndividual relapse riskChronic alcohol useDepressive pathophysiologyAdrenocorticotropic hormoneInhibitory systemPlasma measuresUse disordersClinical practicePhasic changesConsecutive daysAlcohol usePsychological stressStroop performanceDisorder individualsDrinking controlsSymptomatologyImagery exposureCounterbalanced orderSymptomsDepressionSex differences in neural responses to stress and drug cues predicts future drug use in individuals with substance use disorder
Smith K, Lacadie C, Milivojevic V, Fogelman N, Sinha R. Sex differences in neural responses to stress and drug cues predicts future drug use in individuals with substance use disorder. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2023, 244: 109794. PMID: 36758371, PMCID: PMC10024802, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109794.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersDrug cuesFuture drug useDrug use daysCue exposureNeural responsesUse daysSex differencesVentromedial prefrontal cortexScript-driven imageryDrug cue exposureNeutral cue exposureWhole-brain analysisWhole-brain correlationUse disordersDrug use outcomesCue-induced anxietyBrain responsesHeart rateFMRI scansPrefrontal cortexDrug cravingDrug useBrain analysisBrain correlations
2022
Pregnenolone effects on provoked alcohol craving, anxiety, HPA axis, and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder
Milivojevic V, Sullivan L, Tiber J, Fogelman N, Simpson C, Hermes G, Sinha R. Pregnenolone effects on provoked alcohol craving, anxiety, HPA axis, and autonomic arousal in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Psychopharmacology 2022, 240: 101-114. PMID: 36445398, PMCID: PMC10630889, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06278-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderDiastolic blood pressureHeart rateGABAergic transmissionNeuroactive steroidsHPA axisRelapse riskUse disordersAlcohol cravingTreatment of AUDAlcohol cue-induced cravingPilot clinical trialStress-induced anxietyCue-induced cravingAutonomic arousalNeurosteroid systemPreg groupStudy drugDBP responseBlood pressureDay groupClinical trialsPregnenolone levelsWeek 2Cue-provoked cravingPregnenolone Reduces Stress-Induced Craving, Anxiety, and Autonomic Arousal in Individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder
Milivojevic V, Charron L, Fogelman N, Hermes G, Sinha R. Pregnenolone Reduces Stress-Induced Craving, Anxiety, and Autonomic Arousal in Individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder. Biomolecules 2022, 12: 1593. PMID: 36358943, PMCID: PMC9687893, DOI: 10.3390/biom12111593.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDiastolic blood pressureCocaine use disorderHeart ratePrecursor pregnenoloneUse disordersCocaine cravingCue-induced cocaine cravingCue-induced anxietyWeeks of treatmentCue-induced cravingAutonomic arousalChronic cocaine usePreg groupBlood pressureDay groupRelapse riskHigher cocainePregnenolone levelsCue-provoked cravingSeparate daysAutonomic responsesCocaine useTreatment-seeking individualsCravingSteroid systems
2018
7 Stress System Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation in Early Abstinence from Substance Use Disorders—Targets for Medications Development
Fox H, Milivojevic V, Blaine S, Sinha R. 7 Stress System Sensitivity and Emotion Regulation in Early Abstinence from Substance Use Disorders—Targets for Medications Development. 2018, 120-141. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-813693-5.00007-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMedication developmentDrug useAlpha-2 adrenergic agonistsStress system dysregulationStress-induced cravingPreclinical dataSystem dysregulationAdrenergic agonistsDrug AdministrationEarly abstinenceBiobehavioral mechanismsBiobehavioral adaptationsDysphoric statesNovel targetSubstance useRelapseAbstinenceNew foodsSeries of studiesUrgent needMedicationsGuanfacineAgonistsHuman paradigm
2017
Sex differences and the role of sex hormones in stress reactivity, emotion regulation and craving in drug and alcohol dependence
Milivojevic V, Fox H, Sinha R. Sex differences and the role of sex hormones in stress reactivity, emotion regulation and craving in drug and alcohol dependence. Alcohol 2017, 60: 217-218. DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.02.246.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffects of plasma pregnanolone levels on stress response, mood and drug craving in cocaine-dependent men and women
Milivojevic V, Fox H, Covault J, Sinha R. Effects of plasma pregnanolone levels on stress response, mood and drug craving in cocaine-dependent men and women. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2017, 171: e145. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.08.402.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchChapter 69 Patient Responses to Guanfacine in Cocaine Addiction
Milivojevic V, Sinha R, Fox H. Chapter 69 Patient Responses to Guanfacine in Cocaine Addiction. 2017, 679-688. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-803750-8.00069-5.ChaptersAnxiety pathophysiologyDrugs of abuseNeural stress systemsDrug-seeking behaviorEmotional controlDrug seekingRecent research findingsChronic stress stateNegative consequencesCocaine addictionCocaine dependenceStress systemResearch findingsLong-term agentsCocaine useDrug useAbuseGuanfacineCravingSeekingStress sensitivityAddictionAbilityRobust adaptationOwn laboratory