Projects/Areas of Research

The research projects conducted in this program range from studies that examine basic responses to stress and emotions and emotion regulation, adaptations in emotion and stress systems associated with chronic alcohol and drug abuse, and finally, studies to develop and test new psychosocial and pharmacological treatments that will address stress and negative affect related drug and alcohol relapse so as to improve treatment outcomes. Current studies cover the following areas.

• Behavioral, Cognitive and Biological Responses to Emotional Distress in Humans
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Studies of Emotions and Stress Responses - Sex Differences
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Emotions and Stress in Addictive Disorders
• Genetics of Behavioral, Cognitive and Neurobiological Responses to Emotional Distress
• Stress-Induced Drug Craving and Relapse Outcomes - Sex Differences
• Chronic Alcoholism, Stress, Craving and Relapse Mechanisms
• Stress, Gender, Opiate Craving and Relapse in Opiate Addicts
• Medication Development to Ameliorate Stress-Induced Drug Craving and Stress Arousal
• Behavioral Interventions to Improve Emotion and Distress Regulation