The Amphetamine Response Moderates the Relationship Between Negative Emotionality and Alcohol Use

Abstract

Background Considerable evidence suggests that sensitivity to the stimulant effects of alcohol and other drugs is a risk marker for heavy or problematic use of those substances. A separate body of research implicates negative emotionality. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of the stimulant response, assessed with an amphetamine challenge, and negative emotionality on alcohol and drug use. Methods Healthy young women and men completed the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) and an inventory assessing alcohol and other drug use. Subsequently, the effects of 10 mg d-amphetamine were determined in the laboratory using the Stimulant scale of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses evaluated the effects of amphetamine response and the MPQ factor Negative Emotionality on measures of substance use. Results The amphetamine response moderated relationships between negative emotionality and alcohol use: In combination with a robust amphetamine response (i.e., enhanced stimulant effects as compared to baseline), negative emotionality predicted greater alcohol consumption, more episodes of binge drinking, and more frequent intoxication in regression models. A strong stimulant response independently predicted having used an illicit drug, and there was a trend for it to predict having used alcohol. Negative emotionality alone was not associated with any measure of alcohol or drug use. Conclusions Consistent with the idea that emotion-based behavioral dysregulation promotes reward-seeking, a high level of negative emotionality was associated with maladaptive alcohol use when it co-occurred with sensitivity to drug-based reward. The findings contribute to our understanding of how differences in personality may interact with those in drug response to affect alcohol use.

Inhibitory control in people who self-injure: Evidence for impairment and enhancement

“…This is consistent with previous research that suggests that a high level of negative emotionality may promote reward seeking. For example, among people inclined to pursue a certain kind of reward (i.e., those sensitive to drug reinforcement), negative emotionality is associated with high-risk, high-reward behavior (i.e., binge drinking; Allen & Gabbay, 2013). This study extends that work by showing that self-injury -another risky yet reinforcing activity -is associated with deficient inhibition over negative emotional impulses.…”

Simultaneous co-ingestion of prescription stimulants, alcohol and other drugs: a multi-cohort national study of US adolescents

“…For example, there is a recent funding opportunity announcement (PA‐13‐339) from the NIH “…to promote research to study the neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms that might explain how alcohol and stimulants interact at genetic, epigenetic, cellular, neurocircuitry and behavioral levels to promote co‐addiction.” One aspect of stimulant and alcohol co‐ingestion that has been described in the literature is the possibility of bidirectional vulnerability to the stimulant effects of each substance. For example, Allen and Gabbay () discussed the idea that individuals who are very responsive to the stimulant effects of amphetamines may be more responsive to the stimulant effects of alcohol. In this original research report, various potential mechanisms (e.g., personality traits and reward sensitivity) are discussed, as well as a call for further research (Allen and Gabbay, ).…”

“…For example, Allen and Gabbay () discussed the idea that individuals who are very responsive to the stimulant effects of amphetamines may be more responsive to the stimulant effects of alcohol. In this original research report, various potential mechanisms (e.g., personality traits and reward sensitivity) are discussed, as well as a call for further research (Allen and Gabbay, ).…”

Concurrent use of amphetamine stimulants and antidepressants by undergraduate students

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