Stephanie Wemm, PhD
Associate Research Scientist, PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Pregnenolone 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, 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 modelsBetting on Change: An Analysis of Cognitive Motivational Behavior Therapy Versus Referral to Gamblers Anonymous for Gambling Disorder
Wulfert E, Wemm S, Broussard J. Betting on Change: An Analysis of Cognitive Motivational Behavior Therapy Versus Referral to Gamblers Anonymous for Gambling Disorder. Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors 2025, 39: 375-388. PMID: 40111861, PMCID: PMC12140906, DOI: 10.1037/adb0001063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGambling disorderGamblers AnonymousSeverity of problem gamblingSecondary moderation analysisBehavioral therapyModeration analysisLess moneyEfficacy literatureGambling problemsAnchor participantsProblem gamblingGamblingPeriod relative to baselineLow readinessDisordersTreatment sessionsSessionsParticipantsAmount of moneyIncrease adherenceIndividualsCognitionReadinessSymptomsTreatmentNeuroendocrine 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 cortisolGamblingW139 Guanfacine Reduces Drug Craving, Stress and Increases the Number of Abstinence Days in Women With Polysubstance Use Disorder (PSUD): A Pilot 2-Site Clinical Study
Wemm S, Fogelman N, Sullivan L, Vacey E, Bera S, Hermes G, Swain J, Fox H, Sinha R. W139 Guanfacine Reduces Drug Craving, Stress and Increases the Number of Abstinence Days in Women With Polysubstance Use Disorder (PSUD): A Pilot 2-Site Clinical Study. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 112081. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112081.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchM125 Guanfacine Improves Stroop Performance That in Turn Moderates Drug Treatment Effect on Cumulative Abstinence in Women With Polysubstance Use Disorder
Fogelman N, McGowan C, Wemm S, Tate M, Hermes G, Sinha R, Wemm S. M125 Guanfacine Improves Stroop Performance That in Turn Moderates Drug Treatment Effect on Cumulative Abstinence in Women With Polysubstance Use Disorder. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 111719. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111719.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchW33 Real-World Cue Reactivity and Subjective Stress Independently Predict Cannabis Craving in Individuals With CUD
Conway R, Pearlman M, Sinha R, Wemm S, Conway R. W33 Real-World Cue Reactivity and Subjective Stress Independently Predict Cannabis Craving in Individuals With CUD. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2025, 267: 111975. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111975.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositive affect amplifies integration within episodic memories in the laboratory and the real world.
Pratt J, Wemm S, Harris B, Huang Y, Sinha R, Goldfarb E. Positive affect amplifies integration within episodic memories in the laboratory and the real world. Learning & Memory 2025, 32: a053971. PMID: 39870487, PMCID: PMC11801478, DOI: 10.1101/lm.053971.124.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive eventsReal worldEpisodic memoryEmotional eventsConsistent with past findingsTime of retrievalImpact of emotionsParticipants' emotional responsesMemory accuracyAssess memoryPositive affectExperiment 1Experiment 2Memory integrationEmotional responsesEmotional statesMemoryMemory structureNegative experiencesMemory featuresLaboratory environmentAccuracySmartphonePregnenolone 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 functionStress and Addictive Disorders: Drug- and Stressor-related Effects on Stress Biological and Psychological Response
Wemm S, Pearlman M, Sinha R. Stress and Addictive Disorders: Drug- and Stressor-related Effects on Stress Biological and Psychological Response. 2025, 145-162. DOI: 10.4135/9781529673913.n10.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
S143 Traumatic Events, Chronic Pain, and Multiple Substance Use in Women With Poly-Substance Use Disorder
Fogelman N, Tate M, Wemm S, Vacey E, Bera S, Hermes G, Swain J, Fox H, Sinha R. S143 Traumatic Events, Chronic Pain, and Multiple Substance Use in Women With Poly-Substance Use Disorder. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2024, 260: 110254. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110254.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Investigating real-world stress-related mechanisms in heavy cannabis users
HIC ID2000034321RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2024Recruiting Participants
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Mailing Address
Yale School of Medicine
2 Church St South Suite 209
New Haven, CT 06519
United States