Time-dependent increases in cue-induced nicotine and methamphetamine craving during abstinence were recently reported in human drug-dependent individuals. In the present study, we sought to determine whether this 'incubation of craving' phenomenon also occurs in alcoholics. Four groups of 80 inpatient adult male alcoholics were assessed in a single session (between-group design) for cue-induced alcohol craving at 7, 14, 30 and 60 days of abstinence. Another group that included 19 patients was repeatedly tested for cue-induced alcohol craving at the same abstinence days as above. Other psychological and physiological measures were assessed at the four abstinence timepoints. Cue-induced alcohol craving measured with visual analogue scales was the highest at 60 days of abstinence both between and within groups. However, heart rate, blood pressure and skin conductance responses did not differ between abstinent groups. These results provide evidence of the incubation of alcohol craving in humans, extending previous reports with smokers and methamphetamine addicts.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12140 | DOI Listing |
Study Objectives: 1) To determine the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) for improving insomnia, alcohol-related outcomes, and daytime functioning at post-treatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-up, in a largely African American Veteran sample; 2) Evaluate whether improvement in insomnia is associated with a reduction in alcohol-related outcomes post-treatment.
Methods: An RCT of CBT-I (n = 31) compared to Quasi-Desensitization therapy (QDT, n = 32), eight weekly in-person sessions, with assessments at baseline, end of treatment (8 weeks), and 3- and 6-months post-treatment. Primary outcomes were the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) total score, and Percent Days Abstinent (PDA).
J Psychopathol Clin Sci
January 2025
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University.
Ecological momentary assessment is increasingly leveraged to better understand affective processes underlying substance use disorder treatment and recovery. Research in this area has yielded novel insights into the roles of mean levels of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) in precipitating drug craving and substance use in daily life. Little of the extant substance use disorder treatment research, however, considers dynamic patterns of PA and NA, separately or in relation to one another, or how such patterns may differ from those observed among nonclinical samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken)
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, The Yale Stress Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Background: Chronic alcohol consumption in alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation, increasing cardiovascular risk, and high alcohol cravings. Heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic nervous system responsiveness to stressors, may mediate alcohol's impact on the cardiovascular system. While pregnenolone (PREG) has been shown to normalize heart rate and blood pressure in individuals with AUD, its effects on sympathetic and parasympathetic components of HRV and related alcohol craving are not known.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcad Emerg Med
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Objectives: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most common substance use disorder in the United States. Despite availability of four FDA-approved medications, fewer than 10% of patients are prescribed medication. This study aimed to evaluate the impact and feasibility of emergency department (ED)-initiated oral naltrexone in patients with moderate to severe AUD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReprod Biol Endocrinol
January 2025
Departments of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, 330 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
Background: Overweight and obesity-chronic illnesses in which an increase in body fat promotes adipose tissue dysfunction and abnormal fat mass resulting in adverse metabolic, biomechanical, and psychosocial health consequences-negatively impact female fertility. Adverse conception outcomes are multifactorial, ranging from poor oocyte quality and implantation issues to miscarriages and fetal health issues. However, with the advent of novel pharmacologic agents, significant weight loss can be achieved, improving the chances of healthy pregnancies, and their use should be considered during periconceptual counseling.
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