Citation

Vaughan CL, Stangl BL, Schwandt ML, Corey KM, Hendershot CS, Ramchandani VA. Exp. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 2019; 27(3): 236-246.

Affiliation

Section on Human Psychopharmacology, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/pha0000247

PMID

30688502

Abstract

Impaired control over drinking is a significant marker of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and a potential target of intervention (Heather, Tebbutt, Mattick, & Zamir, 1993; Leeman, Toll, Taylor, & Volpicelli, 2009). Impaired control may be related to, but conceptually distinct from, impulsivity (Leeman, Patock-Peckham, & Potenza, 2012; Leeman, Ralevski, et al., 2014). However, the relationship between impaired control, impulsivity, and alcohol consumption, particularly in nondependent drinkers is less clear. This study aimed to characterize these relationships using a free-access intravenous alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA) paradigm in nondependent drinkers (N = 48).

RESULTS showed individuals with higher self-reported impaired control achieved higher blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) during the IV-ASA session and reported greater hedonic subjective responses to alcohol. Higher impaired control was also associated with greater positive urgency and reward sensitivity. Moderated-mediation analysis showed that the relationship between positive urgency and peak BAC was mediated by impaired control, and partially moderated by subjective alcohol response. These findings highlight the critical role of impaired control over drinking on alcohol consumption and subjective responses in nondependent drinkers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Language: en