Neuroscientists at Scripps Research discovered that inhibiting stress-related neurons could reduce alcohol consumption in individuals with PTSD and AUD, without affecting trauma-related anxiety. Published in, this study illuminates the complex interactions between stress, trauma, and neurological disorders, offering new paths for treatment.
CRF exists in the central amygdala, a part of the brain that’s altered by excessive drinking and is responsible for processing fear. Stress causes neural release of CRF, which plays a key role in regulating physiological responses to the emotion. After identifying that the stressed rats expressed higher levels of CRF in the amygdala, the researchers then inhibited CRF-producing neurons in the stressed group.
The results suggest that CRF plays a role in alcohol use among those with comorbid PTSD and AUD. Still, the researchers conclude that future studies need to disentangle the neurological mechanisms behind stress-related alcohol consumption and trauma-induced anxiety.