Effects of cue exposure on the subjective perception of alcohol dependents with different types of cue reactivity

Abstract

Thirty male alcohol-patients were divided into 3 subgroups with increased, unchanged, or reduced craving. Despite no significant difference at baseline, after cue-exposure, the increased craving subgroup showed significantly more confusion, insecurity, and anxiety, nevertheless, stronger beliefs in the positive effects of alcohol compared to the unchanged craving subgroup.

Exploring the Relationship Between Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms and Neuronal Response to Alcohol Cues

“…Our second finding was that participants with greater levels of anxiety symptoms evidenced greater activation in the striatum, thalamus, insula, and unique to this analysis, IFG. These findings build upon previously observed relationships between anxiety symptoms and differential BOLD activation in mesocorticolimbic circuits after alcohol cue exposure (e.g., Chiang et al., 2005). In addition, the consistency of the activation between the depressive and the anxiety symptoms suggest that experiencing depressive and anxiety symptoms may engage similar neurocircuitry in terms of response to alcohol cues, reward perception, and decisions to drink.…”

“…Building upon the work of previous studies (e.g., Breese et al., 2005; Chiang et al., 2005; Cooney et al., 1997; Fox et al., 2007; Litt et al., 2000; Sinha, 2007; Sinha et al., 2008) examining the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms with alcohol cue response, as well as neuroimaging investigations of alcohol cue reactivity (e.g., de Greck et al., 2008; Filbey et al., 2008; Gilman and Hommer, 2008; Heinz et al., 2004; Myrick et al., 2004), the findings from this study highlighted significant correlations between depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and significant differential BOLD activation in response to a gustatory alcohol versus an appetitive control cue. Similar to the observed relationship between cue‐exposure, depressive symptoms, and anxiety by Gilman and Hommer (2008), the pattern of activation found within this study mapped onto the expected regions (e.g., de Greck et al., 2008; Filbey et al., 2008).…”

“…Previous studies have suggested that greater cue reactivity is associated with the risk of relapse (e.g., Cooney et al., 1997; Litt et al., 2000), although there has been debate about the strength of this relationship (Sayette et al., 2000; Tiffany, 1995). Regarding the association with alcohol cue reactivity, most studies have found a strong relationship between craving, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms among heavy drinkers (Breese et al., 2005; Chiang et al., 2005; Cooney et al., 1997; Fox et al., 2007; Litt et al., 2000; Sinha, 2007; Sinha et al., 2008), although others have not (Jansma et al., 2000; Mason et al., 2008).…”