Sex Differences in Stress Responses in Adolescents With and Without Family History of Substance Use Disorder

Abstract

Chronic stress due to childhood adversity leads to alterations in the neural circuits that effect emotional regulation. Studies have shown higher rates of impulsivity, substance use disorder (SUD) and conduct disorders among men compared to women. However, it is unknown whether stress reactivity in adolescents with family history of SUD (FH+) also differs by sex. In this study, we examined heart rate (HR) during the Trier social stress test (TSST) performed by male and female adolescents with, and without FH of SUD.