Together, clinical and preclinical data support the interplay between the individual response to stress, depression severity, and subsequent vulnerability to substance use disorder. Previously, we developed a rat paradigm that models primary depression and secondary AUD. Using social defeat–induced persistent stress (SDPS), we demonstrated that animals displaying a sustained depressive‐like state showed enhanced vulnerability to alcohol taking and alcohol seeking, as reflected in elevated motivation to consume alcohol and heightened relapse rate.20
