Additionally, while both SDS- and witness stress-exposed rats exhibited escalated alcohol use and anxiety, the gene expression patterns were distinct between the two stress groups, implying that different molecular pathways may underlie these similar behavioral outcomes.29 However, the shared upregulation of AVP and oxytocin across both stress groups suggests these neuropeptides may represent a convergent mechanism in stress-induced comorbidities. Here, OXT is linked to Anxiety.