Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)最新文献

Background: In a population of light and heavy, nontreatment seeking drinkers, we recently showed that choice for alcohol versus a concurrently available snack reward was sensitive to the relative cost of alcohol. Here, we examined the neural substrates of alcohol choice using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a new sample of light and heavy drinkers.

Methods: Participants were scanned during the Concurrent Alcohol Food Choice task, and collected points associated with the images of alcohol or snack rewards that they could redeem at the end of the experiment. As cost manipulation, point values were equal or varied so that they favored alcohol or the snack reward. Linear mixed-effects models were used for the analyses of behavioral and brain data.

Results: In a replication of prior findings, alcohol choice was sensitive to the relative value of alcohol in both groups. Neural activations in, among others, orbitofrontal cortex and insula were associated to relative value during choice. In addition, we observed that choosing alcohol as opposed to snack engaged two separate sets of brain regions. We did not replicate our prior finding of increased choice preference for alcohol in heavy compared to light drinkers and found no between-group differences in brain activity.

Conclusions: Overall, we replicated intact sensitivity to relative costs of alcohol in heavy drinkers and found its associated brain activity regions involved in value and salience attribution. Alcohol choice engaged regions involved in value-based behavior while snack preference elicited activity in areas linked to externally oriented attention. The failure to replicate the between-group differences may be due to the artificial MRI environment or observed differences in personality traits.

Background: The majority of alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP) prevention programs for Native women have focused on at-risk adult women residing in rural tribal communities; however, over 70% of the Native population resides in urban areas. Moreover, Native young women universally-regardless of risk status-may benefit from culturally tailored resources. We hypothesized that urban Native young women who engaged with Native WYSE CHOICES (NWC), a culturally tailored AEP prevention intervention delivered by mobile phone app, would report reduced risk of AEP at the 1-month follow-up compared to those who engaged with a comparison condition.

Methods: From August 2021 to January 2023, we recruited 439 urban Native young women (ages 16-20) nationally to a randomized controlled trial administered fully virtually including most recruitment, data collection and intervention engagement. Participants were randomly assigned to the NWC app or an alternative app. We used linear and logistic regression analyses to predict scores on 1-month outcome variables by study arm assignment.

Results: Results of regression analyses predicting scores on 1-month outcomes by study arm showed trending intervention effects on measures of AEP knowledge (p = 0.06), alcohol use with sexual activity (p = 0.10), and an AEP risk index (p = 0.12). At 1-month follow-up, intervention group participants reported greater AEP knowledge, lower likelihood of alcohol-involved sexual activity in the past month, and lower scores on an AEP risk index compared to the comparison group.

Conclusions: The NWC app produced trending changes in key areas of knowledge and behavior that may result in reduced AEP risk among urban Native young women. These findings suggest that the NWC app holds promise for addressing AEP in Native populations. Small changes in these areas may result in lifelong changes in the current generation that impact the health and wellbeing of generations to come.

Background: Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces alcohol-seeking behaviors and may have potential for managing alcohol use disorder (AUD). In this study, we examined the effects of CBD versus placebo on (i) psychophysiological, craving and anxiety responses to alcohol and appetitive cues; (ii) tolerability measures including cognitive functioning.

Methods: Twenty-two non-treatment-seeking individuals with AUD (DSM-5) participated in a cross-over, double-blind, randomized trial, receiving either 800 mg of CBD or matched placebo over 3 days. A laboratory alcohol cue reactivity task with appetitive control (juice) and alcohol exposures, and subsequent recovery periods to examine regulation of cue-elicited responses after cue-offset (recovery) was completed, with psychophysiological indices of autonomic nervous system activity (skin conductance, high-frequency heart rate variability [HF-HRV]) and self-reported measures (alcohol craving and anxiety). Self-reported scales of sedation and neuropsychological executive function tasks were also completed.

Results: CBD sessions were significantly associated with elevated parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity across the task, as indicated by increased HF-HRV. Reductions in self-reported anxiety during cue exposure stages compared to placebo sessions were also evidenced. Reductions in self-reported alcohol craving after cue exposure were seen during CBD sessions only. There were no significant differences between CBD and placebo on executive functioning performance.

Conclusions: In a short-term regimen, CBD appears to modulate PNS activity, reduce cue-elicited anxiety during cue exposure and reduce alcohol craving after cue exposure while not significantly impairing cognition. Large, parallel clinical trials with longer term regimens are now needed to determine the therapeutic potential of CBD in the management of AUD.

Background: Binge drinking is a risky pattern of alcohol (ethanol) consumption associated with a variety of negative outcomes, including the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Many neuropeptide systems are thought to become dysregulated in AUD; however, whether repeated cycles of binge-like ethanol consumption and abstinence following binge-like drinking alter neuropeptide mRNA in key brain regions, such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), insular cortex (IC), amygdala, and lateral hypothalamus (LH), remains unknown.

Methods: Male and female mice underwent 0, 3, or 6 cycles of binge-like ethanol consumption using the "Drinking in the Dark" (DID) paradigm. Brain tissue was collected either immediately following the final session of DID or after a 24-h period of abstinence, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to assess how repeated cycles of binge-like ethanol intake and abstinence alter relative mRNA expression for 22 neuropeptide-related targets.

Results: We observed that repeated cycles of binge-like ethanol consumption and abstinence altered relative mRNA expression for 11 targets in the mPFC, five targets in the IC, eight targets in the amygdala, and two targets in the LH. Two of these alterations were specific to female mice, while one was specific to male mice.

Conclusions: These data suggest that neuropeptide mRNA is altered by repeated cycles of binge-like ethanol intake and abstinence in a brain region and sex-dependent manner. The current findings provide a useful foundation from which to explore potential targets to decrease binge-like ethanol consumption and prevent the development of AUD.

Background: In humans, early life stress (ELS) is associated with an increased risk for developing both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We previously used an infant footshock model in rats that produces stress-enhanced fear learning (SEFL) and increases aversion-resistant alcohol drinking to explore this shared predisposition. The goal of the current study was to test the viability of this procedure as a model of comorbid PTSD and AUD in male and female C57BL/6J mice.

Methods: Acute ELS was induced using 15 footshocks on postnatal day (PND) 17. In adulthood, alcohol drinking behavior was tested in one of three two-bottle choice drinking paradigms. In continuous access, mice were given 24 h access to 5% and 10% ethanol and water for five consecutive drinking sessions each. In limited access drinking in the dark, mice were given 2 h of access to 15% ethanol and water across 15 sessions 3 h into the dark cycle. In intermittent access, mice were presented with 20% ethanol and water Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for four consecutive weeks. In a fifth week of intermittent access drinking, increasing concentrations of quinine (10, 100, and 200 mg/L) were added to the ethanol to test aversion-resistant drinking. Intermittent access drinking was tested with and without a period of adolescent drinking (PND 35).

Results: Infant footshock did not alter drinking in the continuous or limited access tasks. In the intermittent access task, adult consumption and preference were lower in shocked mice when adolescent drinking was included. Aversion resistance was greater in females following infant footshock and adolescent drinking.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that ELS, in the form of infant footshock on PND 17, must be followed by a period of adolescent drinking to affect adult alcohol consumption in mice.

Background: While alcohol has been shown to impair eye movements in young adults, little is known about alcohol-induced oculomotor impairment in older adults with longer histories of alcohol use. Here, we examined whether older adults with chronic alcohol use disorder (AUD) exhibit more acute tolerance than age-matched light drinkers (LD), evidenced by less alcohol-induced oculomotor impairment and perceived impairment.

Method: Two random-order, double-blinded laboratory sessions with administration of alcohol (0.8 g/kg) or placebo. Participants (n = 117; 55 AUD, 62 LD) were 40-65 years of age. Eye tracking outcomes (pupil size, smooth pursuit gain, pro- and anti-saccadic velocity, latency, and accuracy) were measured at baseline and repeated at peak and declining breath alcohol intervals. Participants rated their perceived impairment during rising and declining intervals.

Results: Following alcohol consumption, older adults with AUD (vs. LD) showed less impairment on smooth pursuit gain and reported lower perceived impairment, but both groups showed similar pupil dilation and impairment on saccadic measures.

Conclusions: While alcohol impaired older adults with AUD less than LD in terms of their ability to track a predictably moving object (i.e., smooth pursuit), both drinking groups were equally sensitive to alcohol-induced delays in reaction time, reductions in velocity, and deficits in accuracy to randomly appearing objects (i.e., saccade tasks). Thus, despite decades of chronic excessive drinking, older adults with AUD exhibited similar oculomotor tolerance on pro- and anti-saccade eye movements relative to their light-drinking counterparts. Given that these individuals also perceived less impairment during intoxication, they may be at risk for injury and harm when they engage in real-life drinking bouts.

Background: Unplanned alcohol use has been theorized to contribute to experiencing more consequences at the daily level, and several risk factors have been identified in the general population. However, it remaines unclear whether these risk factors apply to sexual and gender minorities (SGM); if unique risk factors for substance use among SGM (e.g., microaggressions) are associated with elevated risk for unplanned alcohol or cannabis use; and if risk factors for unplanned drinking also apply to unplanned cannabis use.

Methods: We aimed to address these gaps by examining differences between planned and unplanned alcohol and cannabis use in motives, contexts of use, and SGM-specific factors at the daily level among 380 sexual minority women and gender diverse individuals assigned female at birth using daily diary data.

Results: Although unplanned alcohol and cannabis use were associated with lighter use, unplanned cannabis use was associated with more consequences. Social and enhancement motives and drinking with other SGM were linked to a lower likelihood of unplanned alcohol use, while conformity motives were associated with a higher likelihood of unplanned alcohol use. Microaggressions and coping motives were not associated with unplanned alcohol or cannabis use.

Conclusions: Results demonstrated differences in motivational and contextual factors associated with unplanned alcohol compared to cannabis use and identified one SGM-specific correlate. Future research should continue to explore factors that contribute to unplanned cannabis use days being associated with more consequences even in the absence of heavier use on unplanned days.

Background: There is a gap in the extant literature regarding length of stay (LOS) in short-term inpatient addiction treatment facilities. Furthermore, there is a lack in focus on treatment factors which may be better indicators for positive patient outcomes than demographic profiles. The current study sought to examine modifiable correlates of LOS within a short-term inpatient residential facility to extend LOS and improve patient outcomes.

Methods: N = 792 participants who completed a baseline assessment and either completed treatment or left against clinical advice were included in the sample. Outcomes of interest were self-efficacy (domains included negative affect, pro-social or positive use, physical discomfort, withdrawal, or urges), well-being (domains included symptom distress, interpersonal relations, and social role), and social network size.

Results: Baseline dysfunctional social role, larger social network size, and higher alcohol use disorder (AUD) severity all led to increases in LOS. No aspects of self-efficacy, symptom distress, interpersonal relatedness, substance use disorder (SUD) severity, nor other demographic variables were associated with LOS.

Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of taking steps to improve self-perceived social role and social network size. Given that the purpose of this study was to determine modifiable correlates of LOS, we suggest that clinicians at inpatient, short-term addiction treatment centers adopt thorough measures of well-being and social network to support patient treatment and recovery.

Background: While men have been found to drink more alcohol and have higher rates of alcohol-related mortality, women tend to experience higher rates of alcohol-related consequences, including psychological comorbidities and worse alcohol use disorder (AUD) outcomes. However, gender differences in comorbid psychopathology and associations with AUD outcomes among veterans are less well understood.

Methods: Veterans (N = 126; 32 women) receiving inpatient treatment for AUD completed baseline clinical measures including the Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Early Life Stress Questionnaire, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Alcohol use was assessed with the Timeline Followback for the 90 days prior to the baseline assessment and again at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Gender differences in baseline alcohol and psychopathology measures were examined using Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Linear/logistic regression was used to examine associations between comorbid psychopathology and alcohol relapse/use severity post-study.

Results: Consistent with prior literature, statistically significant gender differences in psychopathology were observed, with women reporting higher anxiety (p < 0.001), depression (p = 0.001), early life stress (p < 0.001), and PTSD (p < 0.001) at baseline. Higher early life stress was also associated with higher anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Statistically significant gender differences were not observed for alcohol use in the 90 days prior to the study. Similarly, gender was not associated with relapse or severity of use at 1-, 3-, or 6-month follow ups (ps > 0.05). Psychopathology measures were not associated with relapse or severity of use at any time point (ps > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study highlights that women veterans are drinking similar quantities of alcohol to men, supporting emerging evidence of a narrowing gender gap in alcohol use. Women also have a higher psychiatric burden than men; thus, identifying ways to mitigate comorbidity among women veterans should be a health priority.

Background: The loss of a job or relationship are a couple of examples of unexpected reward loss. Life events, such as these can induce negative emotional reactions (e.g., anxiety and stress), which have been associated with increased alcohol consumption and in turn, an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The present study analyzed consummatory successive negative contrast (SNC) for the first time in alcohol preferring (P) and high alcohol drinking (HAD) rats that have been selectively bred to consume high amounts of ethanol. Following reward loss, animals were given free access to ethanol to determine whether consumption would increase as a possible indication of any negative emotional reaction.

Methods: Male and female P and HAD rats were split into shifted and unshifted groups receiving either 32% or 4% sucrose for 5 min across 10 preshift days. Subsequently, all animals received 4% sucrose for four postshift days, across which, animals were given access to 20% ethanol for 30 min after access to 4% sucrose.

Results: Male and female P rats demonstrated a longer contrast effect than HAD rats, indicated by a longer recovery time following the downshift in reward. Conversely, HAD males did not demonstrate a contrast effect following this downshift in reward unlike their female counterparts. Surprisingly, P rats who experienced a loss of reward consumed significantly less ethanol than animals who did not. Lastly, individual measure of contrast size, or shift ratio, was significantly associated with greater ethanol consumption in HAD males only, who did not display a contrast effect.

Conclusions: These data indicate different reactivity to SNC between these two lines and sexes, suggesting different genetic and sex-related mechanisms underlying sensitivity to an unexpected loss of reward and ethanol consumption following this loss.