Mindful attention promotes control of brain network dynamics for self-regulation and discontinues the past from the present.

Mindful attention is characterized by acknowledging the present experience as a transient mental event. Early stages of mindfulness practice may require greater neural effort for later efficiency. Early effort may self-regulate behavior and focalize the present, but this understanding lacks a computational explanation. Here we used network control theory as a model of how external control inputs-operationalizing effort-distribute changes in neural activity evoked during mindful attention across the white matter network. We hypothesized that individuals with greater network controllability, thereby efficiently distributing control inputs, effectively self-regulate behavior. We further hypothesized that brain regions that utilize greater control input exhibit shorter intrinsic timescales of neural activity. Shorter timescales characterize quickly discontinuing past processing to focalize the present. We tested these hypotheses in a randomized controlled study that primed participants to either mindfully respond or naturally react to alcohol cues during fMRI and administered text reminders and measurements of alcohol consumption during 4 wk postscan. We found that participants with greater network controllability moderated alcohol consumption. Mindful regulation of alcohol cues, compared to one's own natural reactions, reduced craving, but craving did not differ from the baseline group. Mindful regulation of alcohol cues, compared to the natural reactions of the baseline group, involved more-effortful control of neural dynamics across cognitive control and attention subnetworks. This effort persisted in the natural reactions of the mindful group compared to the baseline group. More-effortful neural states had shorter timescales than less effortful states, offering an explanation for how mindful attention promotes being present.

The mediating role of trait impulsivity in the relation between cue-induced craving and functional connectivity within the salience network among abstinent patients with methamphetamine use disorder.

Given the widespread use and relapse of methamphetamine (METH), it has caused serious public health burdens globally. However, the neurobiological basis of METH addiction remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate changes in brain networks and their connection to impulsivity and drug craving in abstinent individuals with METH use disorder (MUDs). A total of 110 MUDs and 55 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional MRI and T1-weighted imaging scans, and completed impulsivity and cue-induced craving measurements. We applied independent component analysis to construct functional brain networks and multivariate analysis of covariance to investigate group differences in network connectivity. Mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships among brain-network functional connectivity (FC), impulsivity, and drug craving in the patients. MUDs showed increased connectivity in the salience network (SN) and decreased connectivity in the default mode network compared to HCs. Impulsivity was positively correlated with FC within the SN and played a completely mediating role between METH craving and FC within the SN in MUDs. These findings suggest alterations in functional brain networks underlying METH dependence, with SN potentially acting as a core neural substrate for impulse control disorders.

Hereditary and cortical morphological biomarker of sensitivity to reward in short-term withdrawal methamphetamine abusers.

Higher sensitivity to reward (SR) and weaker sensitivity to punishment (SP) construct the fundamental craving characteristics of methamphetamine abuse. However, few studies have appraised relationships between SR/SP (SR or SP) and cortical morphological alterations in methamphetamine abusers and whether hereditary factors take effects on SR/SP is unclear. Based on surface-based morphometric analysis, cortical discrepancy was investigated between 38 methamphetamine abusers and 37 healthy controls. Within methamphetamine abusers, correlation profiling was performed to discover associations among aberrant neuroimaging substrates, SR, SP, and craving. According to nine single nucleotide polymorphism sites of dopamine-related genes, we conducted univariate general linear model to find different effects of genotypes on cortical alterations and SR/SP/craving (SR, SP, or craving). Ultimately, mediation analyses were conducted among single nucleotide polymorphism sites, SR/SP/craving, and cortical morphological alterations to discover their association pathways. Compared to healthy controls, thinner cortices in inferior temporal gyrus, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, medial orbitofrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, and lateral occipital cortex in the left hemisphere were found in methamphetamine abusers (P < 0.05, family-wise error corrected). Cortical thickness in the inferior temporal gyrus was negatively correlated with SR scores. We found that rs1800497 A-containing genotypes had lower cortical thickness in the left inferior parietal lobule than the GG genotype. The rs5751876 had effects on SR scores. This study would provide convincing biomarkers for SR in methamphetamine abusers and offer potential genetic targets for personalizing relapse prevention.

Incubation of palatable food craving is associated with brain-wide neuronal activation in mice.

Studies using rodent models have shown that relapse to drug or food seeking increases progressively during abstinence, a behavioral phenomenon termed "incubation of craving." Mechanistic studies of incubation of craving have focused on specific neurobiological targets within preselected brain areas. Recent methodological advances in whole-brain immunohistochemistry, clearing, and imaging now allow unbiased brain-wide cellular resolution mapping of regions and circuits engaged during learned behaviors. However, these whole-brain imaging approaches were developed for mouse brains, while incubation of drug craving has primarily been studied in rats, and incubation of food craving has not been demonstrated in mice. Here, we established a mouse model of incubation of palatable food craving and examined food reward seeking after 1, 15, and 60 abstinence days. We then used the neuronal activity marker Fos with intact-brain mapping procedures to identify corresponding patterns of brain-wide activation. Relapse to food seeking was significantly higher after 60 abstinence days than after 1 or 15 days. Using unbiased ClearMap analysis, we identified increased activation of multiple brain regions, particularly corticostriatal structures, following 60 but not 1 or 15 abstinence days. We used orthogonal SMART2 analysis to confirm these findings within corticostriatal and thalamocortical subvolumes and applied expert-guided registration to investigate subdivision and layer-specific activation patterns. Overall, we 1) identified brain-wide activity patterns during incubation of food seeking using complementary analytical approaches and 2) provide a single-cell resolution whole-brain atlas that can be used to identify functional networks and global architecture underlying the incubation of food craving.

Sex Differences in Opioid and Psychostimulant Craving and Relapse: A Critical Review.

A widely held dogma in the preclinical addiction field is that females are more vulnerable than males to drug craving and relapse. Here, we first review clinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Next, we review preclinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid reinstatement of drug seeking after extinction of drug self-administration, and incubation of drug craving (time-dependent increase in drug seeking during abstinence). We also discuss ovarian hormones' role in relapse and craving in humans and animal models and speculate on brain mechanisms underlying their role in cocaine craving and relapse in rodent models. Finally, we discuss imaging studies on brain responses to cocaine cues and stress in men and women.The results of the clinical studies reviewed do not appear to support the notion that women are more vulnerable to psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. However, this conclusion is tentative because most of the studies reviewed were correlational, not sufficiently powered, and not a priori designed to detect sex differences. Additionally, imaging studies suggest sex differences in brain responses to cocaine cues and stress. The results of the preclinical studies reviewed provide evidence for sex differences in stress-induced reinstatement and incubation of cocaine craving but not cue- or cocaine-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. These sex differences are modulated in part by ovarian hormones. In contrast, the available data do not support the notion of sex differences in craving and relapse/reinstatement for methamphetamine or opioids in rodent models. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This systematic review summarizes clinical and preclinical studies on sex differences in psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Results of the clinical studies reviewed do not appear to support the notion that women are more vulnerable to psychostimulant and opioid craving and relapse. Results of preclinical studies reviewed provide evidence for sex differences in reinstatement and incubation of cocaine seeking but not for reinstatement or incubation of methamphetamine or opioid seeking.

Blunted Expected Reward Value Signals in Binge Alcohol Drinkers.

Alcohol-related morbidities and mortality are highly prevalent, increasing the burden to societies and health systems with 3 million deaths globally each year in young adults directly attributable to alcohol. Cue-induced alcohol craving has been formulated as a type of aberrant associative learning, modeled using temporal difference theory with an expected reward value (ERV) linked to craving. Clinically, although harmful use of alcohol is associated with increased time spent obtaining and using alcohol, it is also associated with self-neglect. The latter implies that the motivational aspects of nonalcohol stimuli are blunted. Using an instrumental learning task with non-alcohol-related stimuli, here, we tested hypotheses that the encoding of cue signals (ERV) predicting reward delivery would be blunted in binge alcohol drinkers in both sexes. We also predicted that for the binge drinking group alone, ratings of problematic alcohol use would correlate with abnormal ERV signals consistent with between groups (i.e., binge drinkers vs controls) abnormalities. Our results support our hypotheses with the ERV (nonalcohol cue) signal blunted in binge drinkers and with the magnitude of the abnormality correlating with ratings of problematic alcohol use. This implies that consistent with hypotheses, the motivational aspects of non-alcohol-related stimuli are blunted in binge drinkers. A better understanding of the mechanisms of harmful alcohol use will, in time, facilitate the development of more effective interventions, which should aim to decrease the motivational value of alcohol and increase the motivational value of non-alcohol-related stimuli.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Allostasis theory predicts specific abnormalities in brain function and subjective experiences that occur when people develop drug problems including addiction. Cue-induced alcohol craving has been formulated as a type of aberrant associative learning, modeled using temporal difference theory with ERV linked to craving. Here, we used an instrumental learning task with non-alcohol-associated stimuli to test hypotheses that the encoding of nonalcohol cue signals (ERV) and reward prediction error signals showed blunting in binge alcohol drinkers. We conclude that fMRI can be used to noninvasively test allostasis and associative learning theory predictions in binge drinkers.

Whole-brain white matter abnormalities in human cocaine and heroin use disorders: association with craving, recency, and cumulative use.

Neuroimaging studies in substance use disorder have shown widespread impairments in white matter (WM) microstructure suggesting demyelination and axonal damage. However, substantially fewer studies explored the generalized vs. the acute and/or specific drug effects on WM. Our study assessed whole-brain WM integrity in three subgroups of individuals addicted to drugs, encompassing those with cocaine (CUD) or heroin (HUD) use disorder, compared to healthy controls (CTL). Diffusion MRI was acquired in 58 CTL, 28 current cocaine users/CUD+, 32 abstinent cocaine users/CUD-, and 30 individuals with HUD (urine was positive for cocaine in CUD+ and opiates used for treatment in HUD). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics allowed voxelwise analyses of diffusion metrics [fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), and axial diffusivity (AD)]. Permutation statistics (p-corrected < 0.05) were used for between-group t-tests. Compared to CTL, all individuals with addiction showed widespread decreases in FA, and increases in MD, RD, and AD (19-57% of WM skeleton, p < 0.05). The HUD group showed the most impairments, followed by the CUD+, with only minor FA reductions in CUD- (<0.2% of WM skeleton, p = 0.05). Longer periods of regular use were associated with decreased FA and AD, and higher subjective craving was associated with increased MD, RD, and AD, across all individuals with drug addiction (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate extensive WM impairments in individuals with drug addiction characterized by decreased anisotropy and increased diffusivity, thought to reflect demyelination and lower axonal packing. Extensive abnormalities in both groups with positive urine status (CUD+ and HUD), and correlations with craving, suggest greater WM impairments with more recent use. Results in CUD-, and correlations with regular use, further imply cumulative and/or persistent WM damage.

Persistent increase of accumbens cocaine ensemble excitability induced by IRK downregulation after withdrawal mediates the incubation of cocaine craving.

The incubation phenomenon, cue-induced drug craving progressively increasing over prolonged withdrawal, accounts for persistent relapse, leading to a dilemma in the treatment of cocaine addiction. The role of neuronal ensembles activated by initial cocaine experience in the incubation phenomenon was unclear. In this study, with cocaine self-administration (SA) models, we found that neuronal ensembles in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) showed increasing activation induced by cue-induced drug-seeking after 30-day withdrawal. Inhibition or activation of NAcSh cocaine-ensembles suppressed or promoted craving for cocaine, demonstrating a critical role of NAcSh cocaine-ensembles in incubation for cocaine craving. NAcSh cocaine-ensembles showed a specific increase of membrane excitability and a decrease of inward rectifying channels Kir2.1 currents after 30-day withdrawal. Overexpression of Kir2.1 in NAcSh cocaine-ensembles restored neuronal membrane excitability and suppressed cue-induced drug-seeking after 30-day withdrawal. Expression of dominant-negative Kir2.1 in NAcSh cocaine-ensembles enhanced neuronal membrane excitability and accelerated incubation of cocaine craving. Our results provide a cellular mechanism that the downregulation of Kir2.1 functions in NAcSh cocaine-ensembles induced by prolonged withdrawal mediates the enhancement of ensemble membrane excitability, leading to incubation of cocaine craving.

Preventing incubation of drug craving to treat drug relapse: from bench to bedside.

In 1986, Gawin and Kleber reported a progressive increase in cue-induced drug craving in individuals with cocaine use disorders during prolonged abstinence. After years of controversy, as of 2001, this phenomenon was confirmed in rodent studies using self-administration model, and defined as the incubation of drug craving. The intensification of cue-induced drug craving after withdrawal exposes abstinent individuals to a high risk of relapse, which urged us to develop effective interventions to prevent incubated craving. Substantial achievements have been made in deciphering the neural mechanisms, with potential implications for reducing drug craving and preventing the relapse. The present review discusses promising drug targets that have been well investigated in animal studies, including some neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, and epigenetic markers. We also discuss translational exploitation and challenges in the field of the incubation of drug craving, providing insights into future investigations and highlighting the potential of pharmacological interventions, environment-based interventions, and neuromodulation techniques.

The association of pain impact and sleep disruption with opioid withdrawal during opioid-use disorder treatment.

AIMS: Persons with opioid-use disorder (OUD) often experience opioid withdrawal and opioid craving, which can drive continued opioid use and treatment discontinuation. In addition, hyperalgesia is common among persons with OUD, yet few studies have examined the role of pain impact during OUD treatment. The purpose of the present study was to test whether opioid withdrawal and craving were elevated in the context of greater pain impact (i.e. greater pain intensity and interference), and whether these associations changed throughout treatment. METHODS: Participants in residential OUD treatment (n = 24) wore wrist actigraphy to measure sleep and completed daily measures of pain impact, opioid withdrawal and opioid craving for up to 28 days. Mixed effects models were used to examine whether daily elevations in pain impact and sleep continuity were associated with withdrawal severity and opioid craving. RESULTS: Elevations in withdrawal, but not craving, occurred on days when individuals reported higher scores on the pain impact scale. Associations between pain impact and withdrawal were present throughout treatment, but stronger during early treatment. In contrast, both withdrawal and opioid craving were elevated following nights of greater wake after sleep onset and awakenings, but these findings were often more pronounced in early treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Pain impact and sleep disturbance are 2 factors associated with opioid withdrawal and opioid craving. Novel pharmacotherapies and scalable adjunctive interventions targeting sleep and pain impact should be tested in future work to improve OUD treatment outcomes.

Effects of Ovarian Hormone Levels on Stress, Cigarette Craving, and Smoking in a Laboratory Relapse Paradigm Among Females Who Smoke Daily.

INTRODUCTION: Females, versus males, have shown a slower decline in smoking prevalence, greater smoking-related mortality and morbidity, and tend to have more difficulty achieving and maintaining abstinence. Identifying sex-specific risk factors is needed to improve outcomes. Though ovarian hormones have been evaluated for their role in smoking and relapse, measures tend to be static and infrequent, failing to capture the influence of increasing or decreasing levels. AIMS AND METHODS: The present study evaluated the effect of static and fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones (ie, progesterone, estradiol, and estrogen to progesterone [E/P] ratio) on stress reactivity, cigarette craving, and smoking during a laboratory relapse paradigm. Female participants (assigned female at birth) reporting daily cigarette smoking (N = 91, ages 18-45) were recruited from the community. Participants provided daily salivary ovarian hormone levels leading up to a laboratory session, in which stress was induced and stress reactivity, cigarette craving, latency to smoke, and ad-libitum smoking were measured. RESULTS: Static levels of estradiol were associated with stress reactivity (ß = 0.28, SE = 0.13) and static E/P ratio was associated with smoking in the laboratory (HR = 1.4). Preceding 3-day changes in estradiol and E/P ratio, but neither static levels nor preceding 3-day changes in progesterone were associated with stress reactivity, cigarette craving, or smoking in a relapse paradigm. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian hormones are among several sex-specific factors involved in the complex neuroendocrine response to stress, and their interaction with other biological, social, and psychological factors in the real-world environment is not yet fully understood. IMPLICATIONS: Findings of the present study provide novel information regarding the role of ovarian hormones among female participants who smoke daily in stress reactivity and smoking in the context of a laboratory relapse paradigm and highlight several avenues for future research. We found that same-day estradiol levels were associated with increased subjective stress reactivity and same-day estrogen to progesterone ratio was associated with increased likelihood of smoking in a relapse paradigm. Ovarian hormones are among several sex-specific factors contributing to the complex neuroendocrine response to stress, and their interaction with other biological, social, and psychological factors in the real-world environment is not yet fully understood.

Nicotine Delivery and Changes in Withdrawal and Craving During Acute Electronic Cigarette, Heated Tobacco Product, and Cigarette Use Among a Sample of Black and White People Who Smoke.

INTRODUCTION: E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) may serve as potential options for harm reduction for smokers if they possess reward profiles similar to cigarettes. Little is known about the abuse liability of HTPs and e-cigarettes versus cigarettes in racial/ethnic minority smokers. AIMS AND METHODS: Twenty-two nicotine-deprived people who smoke (black [n = 12] and white [n = 10]) completed three visits that included a standardized 10-puff bout followed by a 50-minute ad libitum use assessment with their usual brand cigarette (UBC), an e-cigarette, and HTP. Visits were completed in a randomized crossover design and were separated by a minimum 48-hour washout period. Assessments included plasma nicotine, Cmax, and reductions in craving and withdrawal. RESULTS: UBC delivered significantly greater levels of nicotine compared to the e-cigarette (p < .001) and HTP (p < .01) during both the standardized and ad libitum sessions. HTP delivered more nicotine than the e-cigarette during the standardized puffing session (p = .047) but not the ad libitum session. Only craving during the standardized puffing session and not the ad libitum session showed significant differences across products (p < .001) such that UBC resulted in the greatest reduction followed by HTP and e-cigarette. CONCLUSIONS: Despite greater nicotine delivery from the UBC compared to e-cigarette and HTP, participants reported reductions in craving and withdrawal across products, particularly following ad libitum use. IMPLICATIONS: Use of participant's UBCs (UBC) resulted in greater nicotine delivery compared to both the e-cigarette and HTP. Despite this relative difference in nicotine delivery, participants reported reductions in craving and withdrawal across products, particularly following ad libitum use. These findings suggest that in this sample of black and white people who smoke, HTPs and e-cigarettes provided significant relief from negative symptoms that maintain smoking.

Association between drug craving and aggression in Chinese male methamphetamine-dependent patients with and without depressive symptoms.

Depressive symptoms and aggression are common in patients with substance use disorder. Drug craving is one of the main drivers of drug-seeking behavior. This study aimed to explore the relationship between drug craving and aggression in methamphetamine use disorder (MAUD) patients with and without depressive symptoms. Totally, 613 male patients with MAUD were recruited in this study. Patients with depressive symptoms were identified by the 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13). Drug craving and aggression were assessed by the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) and the Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), respectively. 374 patients (61.01%) were confirmed to meet the criteria of depressive symptoms. Patients with depressive symptoms had significantly higher DDQ and BPAQ total scores than those without depressive symptoms. DDQ desire and intention were positively correlated with verbal aggression and hostility in patients with depressive symptoms, whereas they were correlated with self-directed aggression in patients without depressive symptoms. In patients with depressive symptoms, DDQ negative reinforcement and a history of suicide attempts were independently associated with BPAQ total score. Our study suggests that male MAUD patients have a high incidence of depressive symptoms and that patients with depressive symptoms may have greater drug cravings and aggression. Depressive symptoms may play a role in the association between drug craving and aggression in patients with MAUD.

Altered prefrontal signaling during inhibitory control in a salient drug context in cocaine use disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Drug addiction is characterized by impaired response inhibition and salience attribution (iRISA), where the salience of drug cues is postulated to overpower that of other reinforcers with a concomitant decrease in self-control. However, the neural underpinnings of the interaction between the salience of drug cues and inhibitory control in drug addiction remain unclear. METHODS: We developed a novel stop-signal functional magnetic resonance imaging task where the stop-signal reaction time (SSRT-a classical inhibitory control measure) was tested under different salience conditions (modulated by drug, food, threat, or neutral words) in individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD; n = 26) versus demographically matched healthy control participants (n = 26). RESULTS: Despite similarities in drug cue-related SSRT and valence and arousal word ratings between groups, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity was diminished during the successful inhibition of drug versus food cues in CUD and was correlated with lower frequency of recent use, lower craving, and longer abstinence (Z > 3.1, P < 0.05 corrected). DISCUSSION: Results suggest altered involvement of cognitive control regions (e.g. dlPFC) during inhibitory control under a drug context, relative to an alternative reinforcer, in CUD. Supporting the iRISA model, these results elucidate the direct impact of drug-related cue reactivity on the neural signature of inhibitory control in drug addiction.

Baclofen in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: tailored doses matter.

AIMS: To address the question of tailored baclofen prescribing in alcohol use disorder (AUD) in relation to dose-dependent efficacy and the potential danger of high doses and to provide suggestions for the use of high doses of baclofen in the treatment of AUD. The context is the approvement in France of baclofen in the treatment of AUD without dose limitation, making French physicians, who usually prescribe baclofen in a tailored manner, often use high or very high doses. METHODS: A narrative review of the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that used tailored baclofen prescribing and of the severe adverse effects of baclofen that have been reported in the literature. RESULTS: The results show that RCTs using tailored doses of baclofen in AUD are not completely demonstrative, though they are encouraging according to certain meta-analyses, while observational studies that used tailored doses constantly show a good effectiveness of baclofen treatment. The results suggest that many severe adverse effects of baclofen could be related to a nonrespect by physicians of prescription rules and appropriate treatment monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The use of tailored doses shows that the dose required to suppress cravings is highly variable, low or high, depending on each case. Analysis of the circumstances in which severe adverse effects occur suggest that a careful monitoring of baclofen prescribing might prevent a large majority of severe adverse effects. We propose that the education of the patients and the prescription skills, seriousness, and availability of the prescribing physicians are of major importance in the managing of tailored baclofen treatment of AUD.

Characterizing reward and relief/habit drinking profiles in a study of naltrexone, varenicline, and placebo.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to clarify differences in mood, craving, and treatment response between reward and relief/habit individuals in a study of naltrexone, varenicline, and placebo. We hypothesized that relief/habit individuals would have a poorer mood during early abstinence and higher levels of alcohol craving than reward individuals. We hypothesized that reward individuals would demonstrate better drinking outcomes on naltrexone versus placebo. METHODS: Data were culled from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial of 53 individuals (18F/16M) with alcohol use disorder randomized to varenicline (n = 19), naltrexone (n = 15), or matched placebo (n = 19). In this 6-day practice quit trial, participants attempted to abstain from drinking and completed daily diaries. Participants were classified into reward or relief/habit subgroups based on self-reported motivation for drinking. Multilinear models tested differences in mood and alcohol craving between reward and relief/habit individuals. General linear models tested differences between reward and relief/habit individuals' drinking outcomes on each medication versus placebo. RESULTS: Relief/habit individuals showed decreases in positive mood and increases in negative mood over the quit attempt across medications, compared to reward individuals (P's < .05). Reward individuals' tension decreased on naltrexone, while relief/habit individuals' tension remained stable (F = 3.64, P = .03). Reward individuals in the placebo group had higher percent days abstinent than relief individuals in the placebo group (P < .001). DISCUSSION: This study suggests relief/habit individuals' mood worsens during early abstinence. Our finding that reward individuals' tension decreased on naltrexone and increased on placebo may suggest a clinical response to the medication.

Effectiveness of a self-help guide during a temporary alcohol abstinence challenge: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of temporary abstinence challenges (TACs) concerning alcohol consumption is increasing. Support is found to be essential for participants to help them get through a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the additional effect of a self-help guide, based on health behaviour theories and behaviour change techniques, on (i) successful completion of a TAC and (ii) changes in drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE), behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed (OSF registries: OSF.IO/B95VU). NoThanks participants received a questionnaire before the TAC (T0) and 8 months after the TAC (T1). Out of a subgroup of 1308 respondents who were interested in additional support, 652 were randomly assigned to receive the guide (experimental group), and 656 did not receive any additional support (control group). Logistic regressions and (generalized) linear mixed model analyses were used. RESULTS: After 8 months, all participants showed a significant decrease in behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption, irrespective of group assignment. No significant changes were observed in the DRSE. This degree of change over time in behavioural automaticity, craving, and alcohol consumption did not differ between the experimental and control group. Sensitivity analyses with participants in the experimental group, who differed in exposure to the guide, did not show differences either. CONCLUSION: The self-help guide, and how it was designed, added no value to the TAC. Future research should focus on more bottom-up, customized support and explore what (different subgroups of) participants think they need as extra support during a TAC.

Reward, relief, and habit drinking profiles in treatment seeking individuals with an AUD.

AIMS: This study aimed to compare reward, relief, and habit treatment-seeking individuals on recent drinking, alcohol use disorder (AUD) phenomenology, and mood. The second aim of the study was to evaluate the predictive validity of reward, relief, and habit profiles. METHOD: Treatment-seeking individuals with an AUD (n = 169) were recruited to participate in a medication trial for AUD (NCT03594435). Reward, relief, and habit drinking groups were assessed using the UCLA Reward Relief Habit Drinking Scale. Group differences at baseline were evaluated using univariate analyses of variance. A subset of participants were enrolled in a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled medication trial (n = 102), and provided longitudinal drinking and phenomenology data. The predictive validity of group membership was assessed using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: At baseline, individuals who drink primarily for relief had higher craving and negative mood than those who drink for reward and habit. Prospectively, membership in the relief drinking group predicted greater alcohol use, greater heavy drinking, and fewer days abstinent compared to those in the reward drinking group. Membership in the relief drinking group also predicted greater alcohol craving, more alcohol-related consequences, and more anxiety symptoms over 12 weeks compared to those in the reward drinking group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for reward and relief drinking motive profiles in treatment-seeking individuals with an AUD. Membership in the relief drinking motive group was predictive of poorer drinking outcomes and more negative symptomology over 12 weeks, indicating that individuals who drink for relief may be a particularly vulnerable sub-population of individuals with AUD.

Influence of sleep quality on lapse to alcohol use during a quit attempt.

AIMS: Sleep problems are common among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and is often associated with a heightened relapse risk. The present study examines the relationship between sleep and alcohol use among individuals with current AUD during a 6-day quit attempt as part of a medication study. METHODS: The current study is a secondary analysis of a medication trial for individuals with AUD. Individuals with AUD (N = 53, 26 females) were randomized to active medication or matched placebo. Randomized participants completed a week-long medication titration (Days 1-7). Following the titration period, participants attended an in-person visit (Day 8) to begin a 6-day quit attempt. During the quit attempt, participants completed daily diary assessments to report on previous day alcohol consumption, sleep quality, and alcohol craving. In the present study, medication condition was controlled for in all models. RESULTS: Baseline global sleep quality was not a significant predictor of drinks per drinking day (P = 0.72) or percent days abstinent (P = 0.16) during the 6-day practice quit attempt. Daily diary analyses found that greater sleep quality was associated with higher next-day drinks per drinking day (b = 0.198, P = 0.029). In contrast, participants reported worse sleep quality following nights of greater alcohol intake, albeit at a trend-level (b = -0.12, P = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that better sleep quality was a risk factor for drinking during the 6-day quit period, such that better sleep may be associated with increased craving for alcohol and alcohol use the next day. These findings are limited to the early abstinence period and should be considered in studies exploring longer periods of abstinence.

Predictive utility of the P3 event-related potential (ERP) response to alcohol cues for ecologically assessed alcohol craving and use.

Neural measures of alcohol cue incentive salience have been associated with retrospective reports of riskier alcohol use behaviour and subjective response profiles. This study tested whether the P3 event-related potential (ERP) elicited by alcohol-related cues (ACR-P3) can forecast alcohol use and craving during real-world drinking episodes. Participants (N = 262; Mage = 19.53; 56% female) completed a laboratory task in which they viewed images of everyday objects (Neutral), non-alcohol drinks (NonAlc) and alcohol beverages (Alc) while EEG was recorded and then completed a 21-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol in which they recorded alcohol craving and consumption. Anthropometrics were used to derive estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) throughout drinking episodes. Multilevel modelling indicated positive associations between P3 amplitudes elicited by all stimuli and within-episode alcohol use measures (e.g., eBAC, cumulative drinks). Focal follow-up analyses indicated a positive association between AlcP3 amplitude and eBAC within episodes: Larger AlcP3 was associated with a steeper rise in eBAC. This association was robust to controlling for the association between NonAlcP3 and eBAC. AlcP3 also was positively associated with episode-level measures (e.g., max drinks, max eBAC). There were no associations between any P3 variables and EMA-based craving measures. Thus, individual differences in neural measures of alcohol cue incentive salience appear to predict the speed and intensity of alcohol consumption but not reports of craving during real-world alcohol use episodes.