Stress in infancy puts females at higher risk for addictions.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-11 January 2006-YALE UNIVERSITY: Stress in infancy puts females at higher risk for addictions(C)1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:11012006 New Haven, Conn. -- Female rats appear to be affected more than males by stress early in life, leading to a higher likelihood of cocaine addiction and eating disorders as adults, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers in Neuropsychopharmacology.

"These results differ somewhat from our previous study conducted with male rats," said Therese Kosten, research scientist, Department of Psychiatry, and lead author of the study. "Early life stress produces a greater increase in cocaine self-administration in female versus male rats." In addition, the neonatal stress enhances responding...