The acute effects of alcohol on state rumination in the laboratory

Abstract

Rationale Rumination is a repetitive, negative, self-focused thinking style associated with various forms of psychopathology. Recent studies suggest that rumination increases craving for alcohol and predicts harmful drinking and alcohol-related problems. However, the acute effects of alcohol on rumination have not been previously studied. It is proposed that alcohol may reduce ruminative thinking through decreasing negative mood. Objectives In the present study, we aimed to test the previously unexplored effects of acute alcohol consumption on rumination in a hazardous drinking population. Methods We conducted a randomised placebo-controlled laboratory study to examine the effect of low (0.4 g kg−1) and high doses (0.8 g kg−1) of alcohol on state rumination compared to placebo. Participants completed a rumination induction task prior to receiving drinks. We then measured state rumination and mood at repeated time points; 30 min, 60 min and 90 min post-drinks consumption. Results We found a significant decrease in state rumination in the low-dose alcohol group compared to placebo at 30 min post-alcohol consumption, but no difference was observed between the high-dose alcohol and placebo groups. Mediation analysis provided evidence for an indirect effect of alcohol on state rumination through concurrent changes in negative mood. Conclusions These findings suggest that acute alcohol consumption can regulate negative mood and concurrently rumination, providing preliminary evidence for the role of rumination in alcohol use disorders. Rumination may be a treatment target in alcohol use disorders.

Repetitive negative thinking, metacognitive beliefs, and their interaction as possible predictors for problematic cannabis use

“…Moreover, experimental data have shown that perseverative thinking processes appear to be a trigger for craving (Caselli et al, 2013) and that alcohol consumption reduces induced rumination (Mollaahmetoglu et al, 2021). Very recently, two studies demonstrated the mediating role of RNT in the link between emotional disorder and alcohol use disorder symptom severity (Heggeness et al, 2021;Wolitzky-Taylor, 2021) and thus confirming the "cognitive self-regulatory hypothesis" (Caselli et al, 2008;.…”

“…Over the last decade, empirical research has supported this conceptualization by showing that depressive rumination can predict, concurrently or prospectively, alcohol use level, and problem drinking in clinical and nonclinical populations (Borders, 2020; Caselli et al, 2008, 2010; Devynck et al, 2019; Hamonniere et al, 2020). Moreover, experimental data have shown that perseverative thinking processes appear to be a trigger for craving (Caselli et al, 2013) and that alcohol consumption reduces induced rumination (Mollaahmetoglu et al, 2021). Very recently, two studies demonstrated the mediating role of RNT in the link between emotional disorder and alcohol use disorder symptom severity (Heggeness et al, 2021; Wolitzky‐Taylor, 2021) and thus confirming the “cognitive self‐regulatory hypothesis” (Caselli et al, 2008; Spada, Caselli, et al, 2013).…”

The influence of alcohol on rumination and metacognitions in major depressive disorder

“…Although the MCM of generalized anxiety disorder focuses on worry and meta-worry, we assume that the assumptions regarding the use of other coping strategies can also be applied to the MCM for depression and rumination. Thus, we take a step beyond the original model by postulating that alcohol use functions as a cross-model coping strategy that can reduce rumination (see, e.g., Mollaahmetoglu et al, 2021 ) and possibly negative metacognitions (in the short term), making these thoughts and processes seem less uncontrollable and threatening.…”

“…In line with this, rumination is associated with alcohol consumption (e.g., Devynck et al, 2019 ) and with increased alcohol-related problems (e.g., Willem et al, 2011 ). In a group of individuals with risky consumption, the direct effects of alcohol on rumination and mood were examined and it was found that alcohol reduced rumination directly and also indirectly by changing mood ( Mollaahmetoglu et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Apart from the study of Mollaahmetoglu et al (2021) , most empirical evidence for the association of rumination, depressed mood and alcohol use (disorder) is correlative (e.g., Heggeness et al, 2019 ). Moreover, these relationships have mostly been examined in analogue samples (e.g., Bravo et al, 2018 ), and metacognitions have been assessed as a trait variable (e.g., Faissner et al, 2018 ; Papageorgiou & Wells, 2009 ).…”