TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Influence of Antisocial and Psychopathic Traits on Decision-Making Biases in Alcoholics
JO  - Alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
A1  - Miranda, R
A1  - Mackillop, James
A1  - Meyerson, Lori A.
A1  - Justus, Alicia
A1  - Lovallo, William R.
SP  - 817 
EP  -  825
VL  - 33
IS  - 5
N2  - Background: Although decision-making processes have become a principal target of study among addiction researchers, few studies have specifically examined decision-making among individuals with alcohol dependence (AD) and findings to date are mixed. The present study examined the relationship between AD and decision-making, and tested whether different facets of antisocial and psychopathic traits explain this association. Methods: Participants were men with AD (n = 22), AD and comorbid antisocial personality disorder (AD + ASPD; n = 17), or a history of recreational alcohol use, but no current or lifetime symptoms of a substance use disorder, conduct disorder, or ASPD (n = 21). Decision-making was tested using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Results: Across groups, participants reported similar levels of awareness of the contingencies of the task, but the AD groups with and without ASPD had poorer IGT performance compared with controls (p < 0.05). A block-by-block analysis revealed that while AD had slow but steady improvement across the task, AD + ASPD exhibited initial improvement followed by a significant decrease in advantageous decision-making during the last 20 trials (p < 0.05). This was further confirmed via evidence that impulsive/antisocial personality traits but not psychopathic traits mediated poor IGT performance beyond ASPD diagnosis. Conclusions: Alcohol-dependent males favored risky choices regardless of whether they met criteria for ASPD. However, decision-making deficits were more pronounced among those with ASPD, and personality traits characterized by impulsive and antisocial tendencies mediated the relationship between AD and decision-making.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0145-6008
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-0277.2009.00901.x
ID  - ref1
ER  -