To investigate the combined contribution of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) reactivity and environmental stressors (e.g., ongoing life stress) to relapse severity in alcohol-dependent men following treatment, plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol were obtained in 4-6 weeks abstinent alcohol-dependent men (n=41) following a psychosocial stressor [the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)] and two pharmacological provocations [ovine corticotropin releasing factor (oCRH) and cosyntropin].