title: Altered levels of sex and stress steroid hormones assessed daily over a 28-day cycle in early abstinent cocaine-dependent females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing evidence of alterations in brain stress and reward circuits associated with cocaine dependence. Sex differences are also documented and sex steroid hormones have been linked to cocaine reinforcement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study therefore assessed daily fluctuations in stress and sex hormones in cocaine-dependent females compared with healthy females.
  
  
  METHODS
  Daily salivary samples of cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol were collected at waking across 28 days from 12 cocaine-dependent females receiving inpatient treatment and 10 healthy females. Participants also completed mood-rating scales each week corresponding to four phases of the menstrual cycle and cocaine craving was monitored in cocaine patients at each phase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cocaine-dependent females in their first month of abstinence demonstrated significantly higher levels of both cortisol and progesterone across the menstrual cycle and significantly lower estradiol/progesterone (E2/P) ratios compared to healthy controls. They also showed significantly increased negative mood compared with controls, but no variation in cocaine craving across the menstrual cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate altered stress and sex hormones suggestive of an overactive stress system during the first month of cocaine abstinence after chronic cocaine abuse. These increased levels of cortisol and progesterone could impact both abstinence-related symptoms such as negative mood and susceptibility to drug-seeking behavior in cocaine-dependent females.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Substance Abuse Center, Connecticut Mental Health Center, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. helen.fox@yale.edu
authors: Helen C
authors: HC
authors: Fox
authors: Kwangik A
authors: KA
authors: Hong
authors: Prashni
authors: P
authors: Paliwal
authors: Peter T
authors: PT
authors: Morgan
authors: Rajita
authors: R
authors: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D003042:Cocaine; D006854:Hydrocortisone