title: The role of stress in addiction relapse.
abstract: Stress is an important factor known to increase alcohol and drug relapse risk. This paper examines the stress-related processes that influence addiction relapse. First, individual patient vignettes of stress- and cue-related situations that increase drug seeking and relapse susceptibility are presented. Next, empirical findings from human laboratory and brain-imaging studies that are consistent with clinical observations and support the specific role of stress processes in the drug-craving state are reviewed. Recent findings on differences in stress responsivity in addicted versus matched community social drinkers are reviewed to demonstrate alterations in stress pathways that could explain the significant contribution of stress-related mechanisms on craving and relapse susceptibility. Finally, significant implications of these findings for clinical practice are discussed, with a specific focus on the development of novel interventions that target stress processes and drug craving to improve addiction relapse outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, Room S110, New Haven, CT 06519, USA. rajita.sinha@yale.edu
authors.forename: Rajita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009042:Motivation; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents