Chronic exposure to stress is associated with increased incidence of depression, generalized
anxiety, and PTSD. However, stress induces vulnerability to such disorders only in a sub-…

Exposure to stress increases the risk of developing affective disorders such as depression
and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, these disorders occur in only a subset of …

Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides that have a documented role in mediating the
acute stress response. However, their role in habituation to repeated stress, and the role of …

Disrupted sleep is a symptom of many psychiatric disorders, including substance use
disorders. Most drugs of abuse, including opioids, disrupt sleep. However, the extent and …

Key targets of both the therapeutic and abused properties of opioids are μ-opioid receptors (MORs).
Despite years of research investigating the biochemistry and signal transduction …

Orexins are neuropeptides synthesized in the lateral hypothalamus that influence arousal,
feeding, reward pathways, and the response to stress. However, the role of orexins in …

Psychological stress can have devastating and lasting effects on a variety of behaviors,
especially those associated with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Animal …

The opioid epidemic remains a significant healthcare problem and is attributable to over
100,000 deaths per year. Poor sleep increases sensitivity to pain, impulsivity, inattention, and …

The transcription factor CREB (cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-binding protein) is
implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Structural and functional studies …

Mechanisms of stress vulnerability remain elusive. Previous research demonstrated that
inflammation-related processes in the brain play a role in stress vulnerability. Our previous …