Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders.

Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders.
Neuropharmacology. 2021 Feb 15;:108499
Authors: Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Mineur YS, Geuorguieva R, Petrakis I, Cosgrove KP, Picciotto MR, McKee SA
Abstract
Stress and trauma exposure disturbs stress regulation systems and thus increases the vulnerability for stress-related disorders which are characterized by negative affect, including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Similarly, stress trauma exposure results in increased vulnerability to problematic alcohol use and alcohol use disorder, especially among women, who are more likely to drink to cope with negative affect than their male counterparts. Given these associations, the relationship between stress-related disorders and alcohol use is generally stronger among women leading to complex comorbidities across these disorders and alcohol misuse. This review highlights the therapeutic potential for progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids, which affect both stress- and alcohol-related disorders, to target the overlapping symptoms related to negative affect.
PMID: 33600842 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Neuropharmacology - February 15, 2021 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Mineur YS, Geuorguieva R, Petrakis I, Cosgrove KP, Picciotto MR, McKee SA Tags: Neuropharmacology Source Type: research