Sex Differences in Motivation to Self‐Administer Alcohol After 2 Weeks of Abstinence in Young‐Adult Heavy Drinkers

If you need an accessible version of this item, please submit a remediation request.
Date
2018
Language
English
Embargo Lift Date
Committee Members
Degree
Degree Year
Department
Grantor
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Found At
Wiley
Abstract

Background Studies in animal models document that forced abstinence from usual consumption of alcohol changes subsequent seeking and consumption, with increases or decreases depending on the species, duration of abstinence, number of deprivations, and sex. Human laboratory‐based alcohol deprivation studies are rare.

Methods We conducted a 2‐session, within‐participant, randomized‐order comparison of intravenous, progressive ratio, alcohol self‐administration during 2.5 hours of progressive work for alcohol and/or vehicle; once while the participants pursued their usual drinking habits and once after 2 weeks of closely monitored, voluntary outpatient abstinence from alcohol. The schedule of work for rewards and the incremental increases in breath alcohol concentration following completion of an alcohol work‐set were identical across participants. Fifty young‐adult (27 men), heavy‐drinking participants completed both sessions. Our primary hypothesis was that motivation to work for alcohol after 2 weeks of abstinence would be greater in participants with a weekly binge pattern of drinking, compared to those who regularly drink heavily, and we intended to explore associations with biological family history of alcoholism and sex.

Results We detected no change in work for alcohol associated with recent drinking history. However, females, on average, increased their work for alcohol upon resumption after 2 weeks of abstinence (mean ± SEM = +16.3 ± 9.6%), while males decreased that work (−24.8 ± 13.8%). The sex difference was substantial and significant (p < 0.03), with a medium effect size (Cohen's d = 0.63).

Conclusions We believe a more comprehensive study of mechanisms underlying the sex differences in the human postabstinence response is warranted.

Description
item.page.description.tableofcontents
item.page.relation.haspart
Cite As
Plawecki, M. H., White, K., Kosobud, A., Grahame, N., Zimmermann, U. S., Crabb, D., & O’Connor, S. (2018). Sex differences in motivation to self-administer alcohol after two weeks of abstinence in young-adult heavy drinkers. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 0(ja). https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13860
ISSN
Publisher
Series/Report
Sponsorship
Major
Extent
Identifier
Relation
Journal
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Source
Author
Alternative Title
Type
Article
Number
Volume
Conference Dates
Conference Host
Conference Location
Conference Name
Conference Panel
Conference Secretariat Location
Version
Author's manuscript
Full Text Available at
This item is under embargo {{howLong}}