1
|
Bird BM, Belisario K, Minhas M, Acuff SF, Ferro MA, Amlung MT, Murphy JG, MacKillop J. Longitudinal examination of alcohol demand and alcohol-related reinforcement as predictors of heavy drinking and adverse alcohol consequences in emerging adults. Addiction 2024; 119:1090-1099. [PMID: 38374803 DOI: 10.1111/add.16443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Behavioral economic theory predicts that high alcohol demand and high proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement are important determinants of risky alcohol use in emerging adults, but the majority of research to date has been cross-sectional in nature. The present study investigated prospective and dynamic relationships between alcohol demand and proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement in relation to heavy drinking days and alcohol problems. DESIGN Longitudinal cohort with assessments every 4 months for 20 months. SETTING Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS Emerging adults reporting regular heavy episodic drinking (n = 636, Mage = 21.44; 55.8% female). MEASUREMENTS Heavy drinking days (HDD; Daily Drinking Questionnaire), alcohol problems (Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire), alcohol demand (Alcohol Purchase Task) and proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement (Activity Level Questionnaire). FINDINGS Linear mixed effects models revealed that behavioral economic indicators and alcohol-related outcomes significantly decreased over the study, consistent with 'aging out' of risky alcohol use. Random intercept cross-lagged panel models revealed significant between-person relationships, such that higher alcohol demand and alcohol-related reinforcement were positively associated with HDD and alcohol problems (random intercepts = 0.187-0.534, Ps < 0.01). Moreover, alcohol demand indicators (particularly the rate of change in elasticity of the demand curve, as measured by α, and the maximum expenditure, Omax) and proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement significantly forecasted changes in HDD at all time points (|βs| = 0.063-0.103, Ps < 0.05) in cross-lagged relationships, with bidirectional associations noted for the rate of change in elasticity (βs = -0.085 to -0.104, Ps < 0.01). Proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement also significantly forecasted changes in alcohol problems at all time points (βs = 0.072-0.112, Ps < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Multiple behavioral economic indicators (demand elasticity, maximum expenditure and reinforcement ratio) forecast changes in heavy episodic drinking and alcohol problems over the course of emerging adulthood. These results further implicate alcohol demand and proportionate alcohol-related reinforcement as etiologically and developmentally important mechanisms in alcohol use trajectories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Bird
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyla Belisario
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meenu Minhas
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samuel F Acuff
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mark A Ferro
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael T Amlung
- Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - James G Murphy
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rauwolf P, McKinnon A, Bilderbeck AC, Rogers RD. Health factors that influence sustainable behaviour in a single-player resource management game. Psychon Bull Rev 2024; 31:734-749. [PMID: 37715058 PMCID: PMC11061002 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-023-02341-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Encouraging sustainable use of limited natural, social, and economic resources requires understanding the variety of ways in which people think about how resources work and how they adjust their behaviour (or not) as available resources fluctuate. Previous investigations which have focused on understanding how individuals navigate erodible resources, have tended to use group-based, common pool games. However, such social games make it difficult to disentangle whether resource erosion is linked to difficulty navigating the dynamics of the resource or caused by social factors. Here, in two experiments, we recruited 781 participants to play a single-player resource management game in which individuals were invited to harvest monetary rewards from a fully depletable but stochastically replenishing resource over time. We find that the ability to sustain a resource over successive harvesting opportunities (in order to maximize the total harvested rewards) is reliably worse in individuals reporting elevated psychological distress, the often cooccurring hazardous alcohol use, and elevated rates of delay discounting. The associations between resource outcomes, harmful alcohol use, and psychological distress remained substantial even once we had controlled for elevated discounting rates (as a form of impulsivity and a strong risk factor for these health challenges). By contrast, individuals who reported higher levels of financial literacy and general well-being achieved better resource outcomes. Our observations demonstrate that the capacity to respond effectively to the dynamics of a resource are compromised in individuals at risk of psychological and alcohol-related disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Rauwolf
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Bangor University, Brigantia Building, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK, LL57 2AS
| | - Arlen McKinnon
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Bangor University, Brigantia Building, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK, LL57 2AS
| | - Amy C Bilderbeck
- P1vital Products Ltd, Manor House, Howbery Park, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK, OX10 8BA
| | - Robert D Rogers
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Bangor University, Brigantia Building, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK, LL57 2AS.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deng WQ, Belisario K, Gray JC, Levitt EE, MacKillop J. A high-resolution PheWAS approach to alcohol-related polygenic risk scores reveals mechanistic influences of alcohol reinforcing value and drinking motives. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agad093. [PMID: 38261344 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study uses a high-resolution phenome-wide approach to evaluate the motivational mechanisms of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) that have been robustly associated with coarse alcohol phenotypes in large-scale studies. METHODS In a community-based sample of 1534 Europeans, we examined genome-wide PRSs for the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), drinks per week, alcohol use disorder (AUD), problematic alcohol use (PAU), and general addiction, in relation to 42 curated phenotypes. The curated phenotypes were in seven categories: alcohol consumption, alcohol reinforcing value, drinking motives, other addictive behaviors, commonly comorbid psychiatric syndromes, impulsivity, and personality traits. RESULTS The PRS for each alcohol phenotype was validated via its within-sample association with the corresponding phenotype (adjusted R2s = 0.35-1.68%, Ps = 0.012-3.6 × 10-7) with the exception of AUD. All PRSs were positively associated with alcohol reinforcing value and drinking motives, with the strongest effects from AUDIT-consumption (adjusted R2s = 0.45-1.33%, Ps = 0.006-3.6 × 10-5) and drinks per week PRSs (adjusted R2s = 0.52-2.28%, Ps = 0.004-6.6 × 10-9). Furthermore, the PAU and drinks per week PRSs were positively associated with adverse childhood experiences (adjusted R2s = 0.6-0.7%, Ps = 0.0001-4.8 × 10-4). CONCLUSIONS These results implicate alcohol reinforcing value and drinking motives as genetically-influenced mechanisms using PRSs for the first time. The findings also highlight the value of dissecting genetic influence on alcohol involvement through diverse phenotypic risk pathways but also the need for future studies with both phenotypic richness and larger samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Q Deng
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Kyla Belisario
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - Joshua C Gray
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, United States
| | - Emily E Levitt
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3K7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Motschman CA, Amlung M, McCarthy DM. Alcohol demand as a predictor of drinking behavior in the natural environment. Addiction 2022; 117:1887-1896. [PMID: 35112741 PMCID: PMC10061588 DOI: 10.1111/add.15822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Alcohol demand, a measure of alcohol's reinforcing value, is associated with greater alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Although alcohol demand has primarily been evaluated as a 'trait-like', individual difference measure, recent evidence indicates that demand exhibits meaningful short-term fluctuations. We aimed to determine whether moment-to-moment fluctuations in alcohol demand in individuals' natural drinking environments predicted drinking occurrence, drinking continuation, and drinking quantity. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Individuals' natural drinking environments in Columbia, Missouri, USA. PARTICIPANTS Eighty-nine young adults (56% female; mean age = 24.8) participated from November 2018 to October 2020. Participants reported 14.5 drinking days [standard deviation (SD = 8.1)] and 4.1 drinks per occasion (SD = 2.5) during ecological momentary assessment (EMA). MEASUREMENTS Participants completed the alcohol purchase task at baseline. Following this, participants reported on their alcohol demand (breakpoint, Omax , intensity) and drinking behavior during EMA at daily, timed prompts from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. They provided breathalyzer samples using a BACtrack Mobile® Pro. Models tested concurrent and prospective (lagged) associations between alcohol demand and drinking occurrence and drinking continuation after drinking initiation. Additional models tested concurrent associations between demand and breath alcohol concentrations (BrACs). FINDINGS Higher alcohol demand was associated with higher odds of drinking and continued drinking for all demand indices at the momentary [odds ratio (OR) = 1.27-1.56, ps ≤ 0.03] and day-level (OR = 2.14-3.39, ps < 0.001). Additionally, lagged demand predicted higher odds of drinking occurrence and continuation at the following prompt (OR = 1.32-1.53, ps ≤ 0.004). Higher alcohol demand was associated with higher BrACs at the momentary (bs = 0.0011-0.0026, ps ≤ 0.03) and day-level (bs = 0.0053-0.0062, ps < 0.001). At the person-level, findings varied depending on the demand measure. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol demand appears to be associated with both when and how much individuals drink in their natural drinking environments. Elevations in alcohol demand appear to be associated with increased likelihood of drinking and continuing to drink, and greater total alcohol consumption, both within and across drinking days.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Amlung
- Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.,Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Denis M McCarthy
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Martins JS, Joyner KJ, McCarthy DM, Morris DH, Patrick CJ, Bartholow BD. Differential brain responses to alcohol-related and natural rewards are associated with alcohol use and problems: Evidence for reward dysregulation. Addict Biol 2022; 27:e13118. [PMID: 34877771 PMCID: PMC8891069 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple theoretical perspectives posit that drug use leads to biased valuation of drug-related reward, at the expense of naturally occurring rewarding activities (i.e., reward dysregulation). Recent research suggests that the comparative balance of drug-related and nondrug-related reward valuation is a powerful determinant of substance misuse and addiction. We examined differential neurophysiological responses-indexed with the P3 component of the event-related potential (ERP)-elicited by visual alcohol cues and cues depicting natural reward as a neurobiological indicator of problematic drinking. Nondependent, young adult drinkers (N = 143, aged 18-30 years) completed questionnaire measures assessing alcohol use and problems, and viewed alcohol cues (pictures of alcoholic beverages), high-arousing natural reward cues (erotica, adventure scenes), nonalcoholic beverage cues, and neutral scenes (e.g., household items) while ERPs were recorded. When examined separately, associations of P3-ERP reactivity to alcohol cues and natural reward cues with alcohol use and problems were weak. However, differential P3 response to the two types of cues (i.e., reward dysregulation P3) showed consistent and robust associations with all indices of alcohol use and problems and differentiated high-risk from lower-risk drinkers. The current results support the idea that the differential incentive-motivational value of alcohol, relative to naturally rewarding activities, is associated with increased risk for substance misuse and dependence, and highlight a novel neurophysiological indicator-the reward dysregulation P3-of this differential reward valuation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Strain EC. The defining characteristic of substance use disorders. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 230:109207. [PMID: 34871974 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Strain
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Coughlin LN, Bonar EE, Bickel WK. Considerations for remote delivery of behavioral economic interventions for substance use disorder during COVID-19 and beyond. J Subst Abuse Treat 2020; 120:108150. [PMID: 33298296 PMCID: PMC7532990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The response to the COVID-19 crisis has created direct pressure on health care providers to deliver virtual care, and has created the opportunity to develop innovations in remote treatment for people with substance use disorders. Remote treatments provide an intervention delivery framework that capitalizes on technological innovations in remote monitoring of behaviors and can efficiently use information collected from people and their environment to provide personalized treatments as needed. Interventions informed by behavioral economic theories can help to harness the largely untapped potential of virtual care in substance use treatment. Behavioral economic treatments, such as contingency management, the substance-free activity session, and episodic future thinking, are positioned to leverage remote monitoring of substance use and to use personalized medicine frameworks to deliver remote interventions in the COVID-19 era and beyond. With increased remote care, there is an opportunity for virtual treatment development. Treatments can capitalize on remote technology to increase effectiveness. Behavioral economic interventions are well positioned to fill this need. Remote behavioral economic interventions can add to current treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara N Coughlin
- Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, United States of America.
| | - Erin E Bonar
- Addiction Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, United States of America; Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, United States of America
| | - Warren K Bickel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Koffarnus MN, Kaplan BA. Clinical models of decision making in addiction. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2018; 164:71-83. [PMID: 28851586 PMCID: PMC5747979 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
As research on decision making in addiction accumulates, it is increasingly clear that decision-making processes are dysfunctional in addiction and that this dysfunction may be fundamental to the initiation and maintenance of addictive behavior. How drug-dependent individuals value and choose among drug and nondrug rewards is consistently different from non-dependent individuals. The present review focuses on the assessment of decision-making in addiction. We cover the common behavioral tasks that have shown to be fruitful in decision-making research and highlight analytical and graphical considerations, when available, to facilitate comparisons within and among studies. Delay discounting tasks, drug demand tasks, drug choice tasks, the Iowa Gambling Task, and the Balloon Analogue Risk Task are included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail N Koffarnus
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, United States.
| | - Brent A Kaplan
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Acuff SF, Soltis KE, Dennhardt AA, Borsari B, Martens MP, Murphy JG. Future so bright? Delay discounting and consideration of future consequences predict academic performance among college drinkers. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol 2017; 25:412-421. [PMID: 28910128 PMCID: PMC5648613 DOI: 10.1037/pha0000143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
College student drinking is a major public health concern and can result in a range of negative consequences, from acute health risks to decreased academic performance and drop out. Harm reduction interventions have been developed to reduce problems associated with drinking but there is a need to identify specific risk/protective factors related to academic performance among college drinkers. Behavioral economics suggests that chronic alcohol misuse reflects a dysregulated behavioral process or reinforcer pathology-alcohol is overvalued and the value of prosocial rewards are sharply discounted due, in part, to their delay. This study examined delay discounting, consideration of future consequences (CFC) and protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as predictors of academic success (grade point average; GPA) and engagement (time devoted to academic activities) among 393 college drinkers (61% female). In multivariate models, PBS were associated with greater academic engagement, but were not with academic success. Lower discounting of delayed rewards and greater CFC were associated with both academic success and engagement among drinkers. Previous research suggests that future time orientation is malleable, and the current results provide support for efforts to enhance future time orientation as part of alcohol harm-reduction approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F. Acuff
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Dr., Memphis, TN, 38152 United States
| | - Kathryn E. Soltis
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Dr., Memphis, TN, 38152 United States
| | - Ashley A. Dennhardt
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Dr., Memphis, TN, 38152 United States
| | - Brian Borsari
- Mental Health Service (116B) San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States
| | - Matthew P. Martens
- Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, 202 Hill Hall, Columbia, MO, 65211 United States
| | - James G. Murphy
- Department of Psychology, University of Memphis, 400 Innovation Dr., Memphis, TN, 38152 United States,Corresponding Author. Current Address: Department of Psychology, 400 Innovation Dr., Memphis, TN, 38152. (James G. Murphy, PhD). Phone Number: (901) 678-2630; Fax Number: (901) 678-2579
| |
Collapse
|