Erika Comasco
Researcher at Department of Women's and Children's Health; Neuropsychopharmacology
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 50 20
- E-mail:
- erika.comasco@uu.se
- Visiting address:
- MTC-huset, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 1tr
752 37 Uppsala - Postal address:
- Akademiska sjukhuset
751 85 Uppsala
Researcher at Department of Women's and Children's Health; Neuropsychopharmacology
- Visiting address:
- MTC-huset, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 1tr
752 37 Uppsala - Postal address:
- Akademiska sjukhuset
751 85 Uppsala
- Academic merits:
- PhD, Associate Professor
- ORCID:
- 0000-0002-2174-2068
Short presentation
Erika Comasco´s research focuses on the interactive effect of (epi)genetic and psychosocial factors on mental health, and development of ill-health, within multidisciplinary collaborative projects. Emphasis is on adolescents and women, and on sex differences.
See more at:
https://www.neuro.uu.se/research/research-groups/erika-comasco/
https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/erika-comasco/
Keywords
- epigenetics
- genetics
- adolescent mental health
- brain
- depression
- womher
- addiction
- women
- hormones
- mood
- treatment
Research
Neuropsychopharmacology
Focusing on psychoneurobiology, activities of the group include:
- research on the molecular underpinnings of gonadal hormones´influence on women’s behaviour and mental health; by employing genetic, endocrine, pharmacological, neurophysiological and neuroimaging measures, we aim to characterize diagnosis- and treatment-related biomarkers of sex-specific disorders.
- research on the effects of early-life stress and alcohol exposure on brain and behaviour; (epi)gene-environment interactions are investigated in rodents as well as human population-based samples, with special focus on adolescence, to identify biomarkers of vulnerability to alcohol use and misuse.

Publications
Recent publications
Part of BMJ Open, 2025
- DOI for Emotion regulation-based internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of Emotion regulation-based internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Sweden
Part of Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 2025
- DOI for Progestagens and progesterone receptor modulation: Effects on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females
- Download full text (pdf) of Progestagens and progesterone receptor modulation: Effects on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females
Part of Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2025
- DOI for White matter integrity upon progesterone antagonism in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled diffusion tensor imaging study
- Download full text (pdf) of White matter integrity upon progesterone antagonism in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled diffusion tensor imaging study
Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2024
- DOI for Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
- Download full text (pdf) of Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
2024
All publications
Articles in journal
Part of BMJ Open, 2025
- DOI for Emotion regulation-based internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Sweden
- Download full text (pdf) of Emotion regulation-based internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Sweden
Part of Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2025
- DOI for White matter integrity upon progesterone antagonism in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled diffusion tensor imaging study
- Download full text (pdf) of White matter integrity upon progesterone antagonism in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A randomized placebo-controlled diffusion tensor imaging study
Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2024
- DOI for Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
- Download full text (pdf) of Mid-pregnancy allopregnanolone levels and trajectories of perinatal depressive symptoms
Part of BMC Psychiatry, 2024
- DOI for Peripartum depression symptom trajectories, telomere length and genotype, and adverse childhood experiences
- Download full text (pdf) of Peripartum depression symptom trajectories, telomere length and genotype, and adverse childhood experiences
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2024
- DOI for White matter volume and treatment with selective progesterone receptor modulator in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of White matter volume and treatment with selective progesterone receptor modulator in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Part of Journal of Affective Disorders, p. 470-477, 2024
- DOI for Cortical morphology variations during the menstrual cycle in individuals with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of Cortical morphology variations during the menstrual cycle in individuals with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders
Part of Biology of Sex Differences, 2024
- DOI for Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders
- Download full text (pdf) of Modeling brain sex in the limbic system as phenotype for female-prevalent mental disorders
Part of DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS, 2023
- DOI for Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 expression in the ventral tegmental area of outbred male rats following exposure to nicotine and alcohol
- Download full text (pdf) of Vesicular glutamate transporter 2 expression in the ventral tegmental area of outbred male rats following exposure to nicotine and alcohol
Part of Biology of Sex Differences, 2023
- DOI for Sex differences in distribution and identity of aromatase gene expressing cells in the young adult rat brain
- Download full text (pdf) of Sex differences in distribution and identity of aromatase gene expressing cells in the young adult rat brain
Part of Comprehensive Psychiatry, 2023
- DOI for Acute nicotine exposure blocks aromatase in the limbic brain of healthy women: A [11C]cetrozole PET study
- Download full text (pdf) of Acute nicotine exposure blocks aromatase in the limbic brain of healthy women: A [11C]cetrozole PET study
Part of Translational Psychiatry, 2023
- DOI for Emotion-induced brain activation across the menstrual cycle in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and associations to serum levels of progesterone-derived neurosteroids
- Download full text (pdf) of Emotion-induced brain activation across the menstrual cycle in individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and associations to serum levels of progesterone-derived neurosteroids
Editorial: Effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain
Part of Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2023
- DOI for Editorial: Effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain
- Download full text (pdf) of Editorial: Effects of hormonal contraceptives on the brain
New Pharmacological Approaches to the Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Part of CNS Drugs, p. 371-379, 2023
- DOI for New Pharmacological Approaches to the Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of New Pharmacological Approaches to the Management of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Grey matter correlates of affective and somatic symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Part of Scientific Reports, 2022
- DOI for Grey matter correlates of affective and somatic symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of Grey matter correlates of affective and somatic symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, p. 35-43, 2022
- DOI for Grey matter morphology in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder treated with a selective progesterone receptor modulator.
- Download full text (pdf) of Grey matter morphology in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder treated with a selective progesterone receptor modulator.
Part of Translational Psychiatry, 2022
- DOI for Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and toddler behavior: an umbilical cord blood epigenome-wide association study
- Download full text (pdf) of Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and toddler behavior: an umbilical cord blood epigenome-wide association study
Part of Translational Psychiatry, 2022
- DOI for Differential grey matter structure in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: evidence from brain morphometry and data-driven classification
- Download full text (pdf) of Differential grey matter structure in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: evidence from brain morphometry and data-driven classification
Prevalence and correlates of current suicidal ideation in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Part of BMC Women's Health, 2022
- DOI for Prevalence and correlates of current suicidal ideation in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of Prevalence and correlates of current suicidal ideation in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder
White matter microstructure and volume correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Part of Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 2022
- DOI for White matter microstructure and volume correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
- Download full text (pdf) of White matter microstructure and volume correlates of premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Neuroimaging the menstrual cycle: A multimodal systematic review
Part of Frontiers in neuroendocrinology (Print), 2021
- DOI for Neuroimaging the menstrual cycle: A multimodal systematic review
- Download full text (pdf) of Neuroimaging the menstrual cycle: A multimodal systematic review
Part of American Journal of Psychiatry, p. 256-265, 2021
Part of Neuropsychopharmacology, p. 1460-1467, 2021
- DOI for Brain reactivity during aggressive response in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder treated with a selective progesterone receptor modulator
- Download full text (pdf) of Brain reactivity during aggressive response in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder treated with a selective progesterone receptor modulator
DNA methylation in cord blood in association with prenatal depressive symptoms
Part of Clinical Epigenetics, 2021
- DOI for DNA methylation in cord blood in association with prenatal depressive symptoms
- Download full text (pdf) of DNA methylation in cord blood in association with prenatal depressive symptoms
Part of Scientific Reports, 2021
- DOI for DNA methylation of Vesicular Glutamate Transporters in the mesocorticolimbic brain following early-life stress and adult ethanol exposure-an explorative study
- Download full text (pdf) of DNA methylation of Vesicular Glutamate Transporters in the mesocorticolimbic brain following early-life stress and adult ethanol exposure-an explorative study
Part of Statistical Methods in Medical Research, p. 437-454, 2020
Part of Journal of Neuroscience Research, p. 2208-2218, 2020
- DOI for Quantification of aromatase binding in the female human brain using [11 C]cetrozole positron emission tomography.
- Download full text (pdf) of Quantification of aromatase binding in the female human brain using [11 C]cetrozole positron emission tomography.
Part of Behavioural Brain Research, 2020
Part of ACS Chemical Neuroscience, p. 3132-3142, 2019
Part of Frontiers in Psychology, 2019
- DOI for Negative Association Between Allopregnanolone and Cerebral Serotonin Transporter Binding in Healthy Women of Fertile Age
- Download full text (pdf) of Negative Association Between Allopregnanolone and Cerebral Serotonin Transporter Binding in Healthy Women of Fertile Age
Part of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, p. 1329-1340, 2019
- DOI for VGLUT2 rs2290045 genotype moderates environmental sensitivity to alcohol-related problems in three samples of youths
- Download full text (pdf) of VGLUT2 rs2290045 genotype moderates environmental sensitivity to alcohol-related problems in three samples of youths
Part of International Journal of Obesity, p. 2095-2106, 2019
Early life stress and voluntary alcohol consumption in relation to Maoa methylation in male rats.
Part of Alcohol, p. 7-16, 2019
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 1-8, 2019
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 296-305, 2019
Maltreatment, the Oxytocin Receptor Gene, and Conduct Problems Among Male and Female Teenagers
Part of Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2018
- DOI for Maltreatment, the Oxytocin Receptor Gene, and Conduct Problems Among Male and Female Teenagers
- Download full text (pdf) of Maltreatment, the Oxytocin Receptor Gene, and Conduct Problems Among Male and Female Teenagers
Part of Journal of neural transmission, p. 1053-1064, 2018
- DOI for Associations of monoamine oxidase A gene first exon methylation with sexual abuse and current depression in women
- Download full text (pdf) of Associations of monoamine oxidase A gene first exon methylation with sexual abuse and current depression in women
Part of Alcoholism, p. 508-519, 2018
Neurological and neuropsychological effects of low and moderate prenatal alcohol exposure
Part of Acta Physiologica, 2018
Part of Development and psychopathology (Print), p. 449-459, 2018
COMT genotype and non-recovery after a whiplash injury in a Northern European population
Part of BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2017
- DOI for COMT genotype and non-recovery after a whiplash injury in a Northern European population
- Download full text (pdf) of COMT genotype and non-recovery after a whiplash injury in a Northern European population
Vgluts In The Mesocorticolimbic Brain Of Adolescent Outbred Rats Exposed To Alcohol And Nicotine
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2017
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2017
Part of European Journal of Endocrinology, p. 379-388, 2017
- DOI for Maternal and female fetal testosterone levels are associated with maternal age and gestational weight gain
- Download full text (pdf) of Maternal and female fetal testosterone levels are associated with maternal age and gestational weight gain
Part of Journal of Affective Disorders, p. 141-147, 2017
Emotional anticipation after delivery - a longitudinal neuroimaging study of the postpartum period
Part of Scientific Reports, 2017
- DOI for Emotional anticipation after delivery - a longitudinal neuroimaging study of the postpartum period
- Download full text (pdf) of Emotional anticipation after delivery - a longitudinal neuroimaging study of the postpartum period
Part of Addiction Biology, p. 369-380, 2017
Part of Brain Research, p. 36-45, 2017
- DOI for The expression of opioid genes in non-classical reward areas depends on early life conditions and ethanol intake
- Download full text (pdf) of The expression of opioid genes in non-classical reward areas depends on early life conditions and ethanol intake
Part of Hormones and Behavior, p. 106-113, 2017
- DOI for Allopregnanolone levels and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in relation to single nucleotide polymorphisms in the allopregnanolone synthesis pathway
- Download full text (pdf) of Allopregnanolone levels and depressive symptoms during pregnancy in relation to single nucleotide polymorphisms in the allopregnanolone synthesis pathway
Part of European psychiatry, 2017
Part of Molecular Neurobiology, p. 6225-6234, 2017
- DOI for Evidence for a Link Between Fkbp5/FKBP5, Early Life Social Relations and Alcohol Drinking in Young Adult Rats and Humans
- Download full text (pdf) of Evidence for a Link Between Fkbp5/FKBP5, Early Life Social Relations and Alcohol Drinking in Young Adult Rats and Humans
Part of Child Psychiatry and Human Development, p. 584-596, 2017
- DOI for A Biopsychosocial Approach to Risk and Resilience on Behavior in Children Followed from Birth to Age 12
- Download full text (pdf) of A Biopsychosocial Approach to Risk and Resilience on Behavior in Children Followed from Birth to Age 12
Tracer kinetic analysis of [C-11] Cetrozole as a PET tracer for aromatase in the human brain
Part of Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, p. 71-72, 2017
Part of Depression and anxiety (Print), p. 1023-1030, 2016
Part of Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 2016
Physical and verbal aggressive behavior and COMT genotype: Sensitivity to the environment
Part of American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, p. 708-718, 2016
Part of BMC Pediatrics, 2016
- DOI for Early predictors of behavioural problems in pre-schoolers: a longitudinal study of constitutional and environmental main and interaction effects
- Download full text (pdf) of Early predictors of behavioural problems in pre-schoolers: a longitudinal study of constitutional and environmental main and interaction effects
Genetic and Functional Study of L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 in Schizophrenia
Part of Neuropsychobiology, p. 96-103, 2016
Corticolimbic anatomical characteristics predetermine risk for chronic pain
Part of Brain, p. 1958-1970, 2016
Part of NeuroImage, p. 257-265, 2016
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, p. 767-776, 2016
Associations between the FKBP5 haplotype, exposure to violence and anxiety in females
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 196-204, 2016
Part of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, p. 7154-7171, 2015
- DOI for Alpha 2a-Adrenoceptor Gene Expression and Early Life Stress-Mediated Propensity to Alcohol Drinking in Outbred Rats
- Download full text (pdf) of Alpha 2a-Adrenoceptor Gene Expression and Early Life Stress-Mediated Propensity to Alcohol Drinking in Outbred Rats
Corticotropin-releasing hormone and postpartum depression: a longitudinal study
Part of Human Reproduction, p. 351-352, 2015
Corticotropin-releasing hormone and postpartum depression: A longitudinal study
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 61-61, 2015
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015
Part of PLOS ONE, 2015
- DOI for Prenatal and Postpartum Evening Salivary Cortisol Levels in Association with Peripartum Depressive Symptoms
- Download full text (pdf) of Prenatal and Postpartum Evening Salivary Cortisol Levels in Association with Peripartum Depressive Symptoms
Part of Translational Psychiatry, 2015
- DOI for Effect of voluntary alcohol consumption on Maoa expression in the mesocorticolimbic brain of adult male rats previously exposed to prolonged maternal separation.: Maoa,ELS and alcohol
- Download full text (pdf) of Effect of voluntary alcohol consumption on Maoa expression in the mesocorticolimbic brain of adult male rats previously exposed to prolonged maternal separation.: Maoa,ELS and alcohol
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 104-113, 2015
Behaviour problems in children-a longitudinal study of genetic and environmental factors
Part of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2015
Part of International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 2015
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2015
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2015
Personality as an Intermediate Phenotype for Genetic Dissection of Alcohol Use Disorder
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2015
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2015
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2015
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 217-23, 2015
Psychiatric Symptoms in Adolescents: FKBP5 Genotype Early Life Adversity Interaction effects
Part of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, p. 1473-1483, 2015
Part of Acta Neuropsychiatrica, p. 19-28, 2014
Part of Alcohol, p. 184-184, 2014
Effect of early life stress and ethanol consumption on Pomc and Avp expression in rat hypothalamus
Part of Alcohol, p. 193-193, 2014
Part of Human Brain Mapping, p. 4450-4458, 2014
Part of European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, p. 207-217, 2014
The Effects Of Early Environment And Adult Voluntary Drinking On Pomc Gene Expression In Rats
Part of Alcoholism, 2014
Part of Alcoholism, 2014
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2014
Part of Psychiatry Research, p. 403-405, 2014
Part of Alcohol, p. 160-161, 2014
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, p. 1300-1306, 2013
Part of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 2013
- DOI for Effect of gene, environment and maternal depressive symptoms on pre-adolescence behavior problems: a longitudinal study
- Download full text (pdf) of Effect of gene, environment and maternal depressive symptoms on pre-adolescence behavior problems: a longitudinal study
Part of Aggressive Behavior, p. 52-63, 2013
Part of Obesity, p. 2130-2137, 2013
Part of European psychiatry, p. 1022, 2013
Effect Of Early Life Stress And Ethanol Consumption On Pomc In Rat Hypothalamus
Part of Alcohol and Alcoholism, p. 44-45, 2013
Neuropsychiatric deep brain stimulation for translational neuroimaging
Part of NeuroImage, p. 30-41, 2013
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, p. 629-635, 2013
Alcohol Consumption Among Pregnant Women in a Swedish Sample and Its Effects on the Newborn Outcomes
Part of Alcoholism, p. 1779-1786, 2012
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2012
Part of European Neuropsychopharmacology, 2012
Influence of COMT val158met polymorphism on startle response during pregnancy
Part of European psychiatry, 2012
Part of Journal of Affective Disorders, p. 347-350, 2012
Biological aspects of postpartum depression
Part of Women's health, p. 659-671, 2012
Part of Behavior Genetics, p. 262-272, 2011
Part of Psychiatric Genetics, p. 19-28, 2011
MAOA genotype, family relations and sexual abuse in relation to adolescent alcohol consumption
Part of Addiction Biology, p. 347-355, 2011
Part of Archives of Women's Mental Health, p. 453-463, 2011
Part of Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, p. 41-48, 2010
Part of Substance Use & Misuse, p. 1589-1604, 2010
Part of Archives of Women's Mental Health, p. 417-423, 2010
Part of Behavior Genetics, p. 524-531, 2009
Transcription factor AP2 beta involved in severe female alcoholism
Part of Brain Research, 2009
Part of Obesity, p. 1762-1767, 2009
Part of Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 797-804, 2009
Part of Biological Psychology, p. 9-13, 2009
Part of Psychopharmacology
Articles, review/survey
Part of Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 2025
- DOI for Progestagens and progesterone receptor modulation: Effects on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females
- Download full text (pdf) of Progestagens and progesterone receptor modulation: Effects on the brain, mood, stress, and cognition in females
Electroencephalography findings in menstrually-related mood disorders: A critical review
Part of Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 2024
- DOI for Electroencephalography findings in menstrually-related mood disorders: A critical review
- Download full text (pdf) of Electroencephalography findings in menstrually-related mood disorders: A critical review
Part of Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 2021
Part of Frontiers in neuroendocrinology (Print), 2020
Neuroimaging premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A systematic and critical review
Part of Frontiers in neuroendocrinology (Print), 2020
Part of Journal of neural transmission, p. 1601-1626, 2018
- DOI for Gene-environment interaction of monoamine oxidase A in relation to antisocial behaviour: current and future directions.
- Download full text (pdf) of Gene-environment interaction of monoamine oxidase A in relation to antisocial behaviour: current and future directions.
Personality as an intermediate phenotype for genetic dissection of alcohol use disorder.
Part of Journal of neural transmission, p. 107-130, 2018
- DOI for Personality as an intermediate phenotype for genetic dissection of alcohol use disorder.
- Download full text (pdf) of Personality as an intermediate phenotype for genetic dissection of alcohol use disorder.
Sex differences in depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period
Part of Journal of Neuroscience Research, p. 719-730, 2017
- DOI for Sex differences in depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period
- Download full text (pdf) of Sex differences in depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period
Neuroimaging the Menstrual Cycle and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Part of Current Psychiatry Reports, 2015
Functional and molecular neuroimaging of menopause and hormone replacement therapy
Part of Frontiers in Neuroscience, p. 388, 2014
Part of Psychoneuroendocrinology, p. 28-52, 2014
Part of Translational Neuroscience, p. 241-250, 2013