2025
Pregnenolone 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
2023
Therapeutics 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 targetWomenGuanfacineProgesteroneTreatmentEfficacySex 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 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
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