2023
Patients with AUD exhibit dampened heart rate variability during sleep as compared to social drinkers
Wemm S, Golden M, Martins J, Fogelman N, Sinha R. Patients with AUD exhibit dampened heart rate variability during sleep as compared to social drinkers. Alcohol And Alcoholism 2023, 58: 653-661. PMID: 37756494, PMCID: PMC10642609, DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad061.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderHeart rate variabilitySocial drinkersAUD groupChronic heavy alcohol useRate variabilityLife-threatening cardiovascular diseaseHRV measuresPatient-related symptomsPatient-reported symptomsHF/LF ratioSevere alcohol use disorderNervous system processesHeavy alcohol useParasympathetic dysfunctionCardiovascular diseaseHeart rate monitoringObservational studySleep difficultiesHeart rateParasympathetic activationUse disordersRSA amplitudeCardiovascular systemDays of monitoringSex 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