Sign-tracking to non-drug reward is related to severity of alcohol-use problems in a sample of individuals seeking treatment.
Addict Behav
; 154: 108010, 2024 07.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38479081
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
A prominent neuroscientific theory of drug addiction is the incentive sensitization model. Individual differences in the tendency to ascribe motivational salience to cues that predict reward, and involuntary "sign-tracking" (orientation towards) such cues have been identified as potentially important in understanding vulnerability to addiction and relapse. However, to date this behaviour has not been assessed in a treatment-seeking clinical population, who typically represent those most susceptible to alcohol-related harms and episodes of relapse. This highlights a significant gap in the literature pertaining to incentive sensitization and drug dependence.METHODS:
Individuals accessing inpatient drug and alcohol services with alcohol as primary drug of concern were recruited to participate in a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) intervention. At the baseline assessment, participants completed various self-report measures (including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT) in addition to a visual search task measuring sign-tracking to cues signalling monetary reward. At 3-month follow up, abstinence from alcohol was the primary outcome measure. All analyses and hypotheses were pre-registered.RESULTS:
At baseline (57 participants), AUDIT scores correlated with sign-tracking to signals of monetary reward. In a subsequent regression analysis sign-tracking, gender and self-reported alcohol craving predicted abstinence at 3-month follow up (41 participants).CONCLUSIONS:
Our work demonstrates that involuntary sign-tracking to cues signalling non-drug reward is associated with problematic alcohol use and return to use at 3-month follow up, in a treatment-seeking sample. Whether this automatic prioritisation of cues signalling reward is a consequence or vulnerability for problematic alcohol use remains to be investigated.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Comportamento Aditivo
/
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias
/
Alcoolismo
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article