Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
RATIONALE: The complex relationship between stress and alcohol involves bidirectional influences in which stress impacts alcohol intake and alcohol exposure and withdrawal contribute to stress. Similar brain regions have been implicated in mediating the effects of alcohol and stress and accumulating evidence points to altered network states in contributing to psychiatric illnesses and alcohol use disorder. OBJECTIVES: This review explores the overlapping brain networks mediating the effects of stress and alcohol and the role they play in alcohol use disorder and stress-related disorders. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on empirical studies assessing the impact of acute alcohol and acute stress exposure on resting network states, functional and electrographic network states, and alterations associated with AUD and stress-related disorders. We performed a network analysis to extract and visualize the brain regions involved in acute alcohol exposure, the effects of acute stress, alcohol use disorder, and stress-related disorders. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analyses demonstrate that alcohol and stress impact the activity of similar brain regions, particularly those which serve as key nodes involved in emotional processing. Further, we demonstrate alterations in these networks associated with alcohol use disorder and stress-related disorders, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis shows similar networks which are influenced by stress and alcohol, which may contribute to their bidirectional relationship. Alterations in these networks may also contribute to the underlying neurobiology of alcohol use disorder and stress-related disorders.
Blandino et al. (Tue,) studied this question.