Treatment-engaged, 1-month-abstinent, recovering alcohol-dependent patients showed HPA axis dysfunction relative to controls. Alcohol-dependent patients showed higher basal levels of corticotropin and a lack of corticotropin and cortisol responses to stress and alcohol cues relative to neutral stimuli as compared with controls. Compared with controls, alcohol-dependent patients had increased anxiety in the neutral, relaxed state and in response to alcohol cues, along with significantly higher and persistent alcohol craving during stress and alcohol cue exposure. These data indicate increased neutral, relaxed-state anxiety and corticotropin levels, greater provoked alcohol craving, and HPA axis dysfunction that persists in alcohol-dependent patients even after 1 month of abstinence.
