Verica Milivojevic, PhD
Associate Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Effects of the Neuroactive Steroid Precursor Pregnenolone on Stress- and Alcohol Cue–Provoked Pain Responses in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
Quinlan R, Gao H, Sinha R, Milivojevic V. Effects of the Neuroactive Steroid Precursor Pregnenolone on Stress- and Alcohol Cue–Provoked Pain Responses in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder. Experimental And Clinical Psychopharmacology 2026 PMID: 42258258, PMCID: PMC13251320, DOI: 10.1037/pha0000862.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol use disorderAlcohol cravingUse disorderAssociated with alcohol cravingPrecursor pregnenoloneCue-related cravingTreatment-seeking menAlcohol use outcomesNeuroactive steroid levelsStress response dysregulationExposure to stressPain responseChronic alcohol useBetween-subjects factorWithin-subject factorsAlcohol cuesAnxiety responsesImagery conditionCravingGABAergic activitySelf-report of painAnxietySelf-ReportAlcohol usePositive associationAlterations in glucose and insulin resistance following stress and alcohol cues predict alcohol craving in those with AUD and obesity: A preliminary study
Harvanek Z, Milivojevic V, Hart R, Sinha R. Alterations in glucose and insulin resistance following stress and alcohol cues predict alcohol craving in those with AUD and obesity: A preliminary study. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2026, 50: e70283. PMID: 42101823, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70283.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderAlcohol cravingLaboratory sessionsAssessment of alcohol cravingAlcohol use disorder groupCue-related cravingNeutral-relaxing cuesHealthy controlsChronic alcohol useAlcohol cuesUse disorderExposed to stressCravingRisk of relapseHC groupGlucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonistsAlcohol useInsulin resistancePeptide 1 receptor agonistsLinear mixed modelsHypothesis-generating resultsMechanistic overlapGLP-1 agonistsAlcohol intakeBlood glucose control7. The Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Effects on Stress- And Cue- Provoked Alcohol Craving Associations With Drinking Outcomes in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
Sakmar E, Wemm S, Fogelman N, Sinha R, Milivojevic V. 7. The Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Effects on Stress- And Cue- Provoked Alcohol Craving Associations With Drinking Outcomes in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2026, 99: s102. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.241.Peer-Reviewed Original Research381. Effects of Daily 8-WEEK Exogenous Pregnenolone Treatment on Downstream Metabolite Levels in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder
Milivojevic V, Fogelman N, Sinha R. 381. Effects of Daily 8-WEEK Exogenous Pregnenolone Treatment on Downstream Metabolite Levels in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2026, 99: s263. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.615.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Early alcohol abstinence symptoms and the role of cumulative adversity
Fox H, Alcina J, Hyman S, Milivojevic V, Sinha R. Early alcohol abstinence symptoms and the role of cumulative adversity. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2025, 49: 2225-2238. PMID: 41021116, PMCID: PMC12519049, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70137.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol-dependent individualsCumulative lifetime adversityAbstinence symptomsLifetime adversitySymptom patternsCumulative adversityWeeks of inpatient treatmentAlcohol treatment outcomesAlcohol-dependent participantsInpatient alcoholism treatmentAlcohol use disorderAlcohol cravingAbstinence severityWithdrawal symptomsUse disorderMood statesInpatient participantsControl participantsAlcohol treatmentSymptom presentationTreatment admissionsInpatient treatmentAdverse experiencesModerating factorsAdversityPregnenolone reduces provoked craving and cocaine use in men and women with cocaine use disorder: A pilot trial
Sakmar E, Wemm S, Fogelman N, Hermes G, Sinha R, Milivojevic V. Pregnenolone reduces provoked craving and cocaine use in men and women with cocaine use disorder: A pilot trial. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 274: 112765. PMID: 40570771, PMCID: PMC12264926, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112765.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCocaine use disorderCocaine useNeuroactive steroidsUse disorderTreatment of cocaine use disorderCocaine use outcomePregnenolone levelsTreatment-seeking individualsDays of cocaineChronic cocaine useExposure to stressPreg groupCocaine cuesCocaine cravingCraving responsesNeutral cuesInduce cravingCravingWeek 2CocaineChronic treatmentPilot findingsCocaine amountPrecursor pregnenoloneLinear mixed effects modelsNeuroendocrine responses and coupling to laboratory-induced stress in problem gambling and heavy smoking
Wemm S, Holzhauer C, Harrison L, Milivojevic V, Fogelman N, Cao Z, Wulfert E. Neuroendocrine responses and coupling to laboratory-induced stress in problem gambling and heavy smoking. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2025, 177: 107469. PMID: 40250213, PMCID: PMC12131328, DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107469.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTrier Social Stress TestHypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axisAxis responseProblem gamblingPathophysiology of addictive disordersHPA axis responseSocial Stress TestHypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axisHealthy control participantsLaboratory-induced stressStress-related changesStress hormone cortisolHypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormonesAddictive disordersAddiction mechanismsLaboratory stressorSubstance addictionControl participantsNeuroactive steroidsNeuroendocrine responsesAttenuated cortisolPsychological featuresProblem gamblersHormone cortisolGamblingPregnenolone effects on parasympathetic response to stress and alcohol cue provocation in treatment‐seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder
Gao H, Sinha R, Wemm S, Milivojevic V. Pregnenolone effects on parasympathetic response to stress and alcohol cue provocation in treatment‐seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2025, 49: 619-628. PMID: 39779217, PMCID: PMC11928267, DOI: 10.1111/acer.15529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderTreatment-seeking individualsAlcohol cuesAlcohol cravingResponse to stressPregnenolone groupUse disorderResponse to alcohol cuesGroup x condition interactionHigher alcohol cravingLinear mixed-effects modelsHeart rate variabilityHeart rate variability indicesAutonomic nervous system dysregulationChronic alcohol consumptionRandomized to placeboAutonomic nervous system responsesNervous system dysregulationCravingAlcohol's impactCondition interactionAssociated with autonomic nervous system dysregulationNervous system responsesAutonomic responsesEnhanced autonomic function
2024
Stability and Reliability of Repeated Plasma Pregnenolone Levels After Oral Pregnenolone Dosing in Individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder: Pilot Findings
Gao H, Magin Z, Fogelman N, Sinha R, Angarita G, Milivojevic V. Stability and Reliability of Repeated Plasma Pregnenolone Levels After Oral Pregnenolone Dosing in Individuals with Cocaine Use Disorder: Pilot Findings. Life 2024, 14: 1483. PMID: 39598281, PMCID: PMC11595496, DOI: 10.3390/life14111483.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCocaine use disorderSubstance use disordersUse disorderPregnenolone levelsTreatment of cocaine use disorderReduce alcohol cravingTreatment-seeking individualsAssociated across timeAdministration of pregnenoloneEight-week trialSignificant main effectAlcohol cravingPregnenolone administrationNegative health risksDouble-blind clinical trialMain effectPilot findingsLevels of pregnenoloneChronic dosingStudy medication doseMedication dosesDisordersCocainePilot studyStress biology
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, 72: 427-451. PMID: 37985542, DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_456.ChaptersAlcohol 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 factorsAdaptation
News
News
- June 05, 2026Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Pilot Trial: Pregnenolone Reduces Provoked Craving and Cocaine Use in Men and Women with Cocaine Use Disorder
- May 11, 2026Source: Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research
Study: Alterations in Glucose and Insulin Resistance Following Stress and Alcohol Cues Predict Alcohol Craving in Those with AUD and Obesity