Changes in processing speed during early abstinence from alcohol dependence.

Background: Processing speed is a task-independent construct underpinning more complex goal-related abilities. Processing speed is impaired in alcohol dependence (AD) and is linked to relapse, as are the functions it underpins. Reliable measurement of processing speed may allow tracking of AD recovery trajectories and identify patients requiring additional support.

A polygenic risk score for alcohol-associated cirrhosis among heavy drinkers with European ancestry.

Background: Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) based on results from genome-wide association studies offer the prospect of risk stratification for many common and complex diseases. We developed a PRS for alcohol-associated cirrhosis by comparing single-nucleotide polymorphisms among patients with alcohol-associated cirrhosis (ALC) versus drinkers who did not have evidence of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.

Methods: Using a data-driven approach, a PRS for ALC was generated using a meta-genome-wide association study of ALC (N=4305) and an independent cohort of heavy drinkers with ALC and without significant liver disease (N=3037).

Factor structure of the alcohol expectancies questionnaire among adolescents in rural Ghana.

Introduction: Children's early experiences with alcohol inform the development of alcohol-related beliefs which are known to predict alcohol consumption during the critical stage of adolescence. Yet, there has been considerably less research into these alcohol-related cognitions in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and existing measures of these beliefs are highly reflective of Western contexts, which may not be fully appropriate for use in LMICs. The aim is to ascertain the construct validity of the Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire (AEQ) in a non-Western sample.

Recovery of neuropsychological function following abstinence from alcohol in adults diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder: Systematic review of longitudinal studies.

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) associate with structural and functional brain differences, including impairments in neuropsychological function; however, reviews (mostly cross-sectional) are inconsistent with regards to recovery of such functions following abstinence. Recovery is important, as these impairments associate with treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Objective(s): To assess neuropsychological function recovery following abstinence in individuals with a clinical AUD diagnosis.

Working with the police service and homeless services in North West England to reduce alcohol harms: A feasibility study of a tailored Blue Light approach.

Introduction: Deaths caused by alcohol are increasing in England and 80 % of people with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are not in treatment. The Blue Light approach (Alcohol Change UK) is an initiative to support people with AUDs who are not in treatment. This study aimed to tailor the Blue Light approach (combined with alcohol identification and alcohol brief interventions [ABI] training) for police officers and homeless service staff in North West England, and to qualitatively evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the training.

Younger, drunk, and fast: Paradoxical rapid reaction time in hazardous drinkers.

Background: Research consistently links hazardous alcohol use with reduced cognitive function but is less consistent with regard to processing speed, which underpins many cognitive functions. Using vibrotactile perception to assess cognitive function may have benefits over other sensory stimuli, as this method gives lower variability in reaction time (RT) and shorter latency.

Aims: This study aimed to assess performance on vibrotactile simple and choice RT tasks between hazardous and non-hazardous drinkers.

The labels and models used to describe problematic substance use impact discrete elements of stigma: A registered report.

Objectives: Problematic substance use is one of the most stigmatized health conditions leading research to examine how the labels and models used to describe it influence public stigma. Two recent studies examine whether beliefs in a disease model of addiction influence public stigma but result in equivocal findings-in line with the mixed-blessings model, Kelly et al. (2021) found that while the label "chronically relapsing brain disease" reduced blame attribution, it decreased prognostic optimism and increased perceived danger and need for continued care; however, Rundle et al.

UK alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of drinking motives, employment and subjective mental health.

Unlabelled: Background Previous investigations suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic effects on alcohol consumption were heterogenous and may vary as a function of structural and psychological factors. Research examining mediating or moderating factors implicated in pandemic-occasioned changes in drinking have also tended to use single-study cross-sectional designs and convenience samples.

Aims: First, to explore structural (changed employment or unemployment) and psychological (subjective mental health and drinking motives) correlates of consumption reported during the COVID-19 pandemic using a UK nationally representative (quota sampled) dataset.

In people who drink more, facets of theory of mind may be impaired by alcohol stimuli.

Background: Theory of mind (ToM) - the ability to understand others' beliefs, mental states, and knowledge - is an important part of successful social interaction. There is a growing (albeit mixed) evidence base suggesting that individuals with substance use disorder or who are intoxicated (relative to sober controls) perform worse on a number of ToM tasks. The aim of this study was to explore the hitherto little explored notion that ToM-related capabilities such as the ability to see the world from another person's perspective (termed Visual Perspective Taking; VPT), may be impacted by alcohol-related stimuli.

Informing the development of diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis of alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI) among heavy drinkers: A systematic scoping review.

Background: Early detection and diagnosis of alcohol-related cognitive impairment (ARCI) among heavy drinkers is crucial to facilitating appropriate referral and treatment. However, there is lack of consensus in defining diagnostic criteria for ARCI. Uncertainty in attributing a diagnosis of suspected ARCI commonly arises in clinical practice and opportunities to intervene are missed.

The clustering of physical health conditions and associations with co-occurring mental health problems and problematic alcohol use: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There is strong evidence for the co-occurrence of mental health conditions and alcohol problems, yet physical health outcomes among this group are not well characterised. This study aimed to identify clusters of physical health conditions and their associations with mental health and problematic alcohol use in England's general population.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (N = 7546) was conducted.

A cross-national study of predrinking motives in Spain and the UK: Cross-sectional associations with risk-taking and alcohol consumption.

This study contrasts young people's predrinking in two European cultural contexts: Spain and the UK. Whilst UK predrinking typically occurs amongst small groups of individuals who already know one another, the distinctive Spanish context of the Botellón details a far larger gathering in which participants may be less likely to know each other. As such, predrinking motives which drive consumption and risk-taking may be expected to vary between these cultures.

Psychopathy and dangerousness: An umbrella review and meta-analysis.

Psychopathy has traditionally been linked with heightened criminality, but the relationship of psychopathy with increased risk for dangerousness is contested. To address this debated issue, we conducted an umbrella review (PROSPERO CRD42020214761) of all available meta-analyses of psychopathy and indices of 'dangerousness' (e.g.

Dark Nudges: Branding Magnifies the Decoy Effect in Alcohol Purchasing Decisions.

Objective: Public health policies aim to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms by controlling the cost and availability of alcohol, yet industry actors seek to position branded beverages appealingly vis-à-vis other products. To inform the development of regulatory strategies, it is important to understand how alcohol branding interacts with seductive pricing strategies to influence purchasing decisions. Toward this aim, the current study examines how the "decoy effect" may operate to modify purchasing decisions for branded alcoholic beverages.

Recovery of neuropsychological function following abstinence from alcohol in adults diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder: Protocol for a systematic review of longitudinal studies.

Background: Alcohol use disorders (AUD) associate with structural and functional brain differences, including impairments in neuropsychological functions; however, review level research (largely cross-sectional) is inconsistent with regards to recovery of such functions following abstinence. Such recovery is important, as these impairments associate with treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Objective(s): To assess neuropsychological function recovery following abstinence in individuals with a clinical AUD diagnosis.

Psychopathy and response inhibition: A meta-analysis of go/no-go and stop signal task performance.

Traditional and more modern conceptualizations of psychopathy cite problems with impulse control. However, the extent to which these problems represent a cardinal feature of the disorder has been debated. In this study, we conducted a preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis, searching Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed, for studies from inception to January 6th, 2022.

Positive but not negative affect is associated with increased daily drinking likelihood in non-clinical populations: systematic review and meta-analyses.

Recent meta-analytical findings indicate that affect regulation plays an important role in alcohol craving, consumption volume, and substance use. However, in view of mixed findings, the affect and drinking likelihood literature remains in need of clarification and consolidation. This systematic review with meta-analyses interrogated the results from peer-reviewed studies among non-clinical populations that examined the relationship between daily affective states and intraday likelihood of alcohol consumption.

Corrigendum to "The effects of menstrual cycle stage and hormonal contraception on alcohol consumption and craving: A pilot investigation" [Compr. Psychoneuroendocrinol. 5C (2021) 100022].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.

Problem drinking recognition among UK military personnel: prevalence and associations.

Purpose: Despite the higher prevalence of problem drinking in the UK military compared to the general population, problem recognition appears to be low, and little is known about which groups are more likely to recognise a problem. This study examined prevalence of problem drinking recognition and its associations.

Methods: We analysed data from 6400 regular serving and ex-serving personnel, collected in phase 3 (2014-2016) of the King's Centre for Military Health Research cohort study.

The impact of alcohol priming on craving and motivation to drink: a meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: An initial dose of alcohol can motivate-or prime-further drinking and may precipitate (re)lapse and bingeing. Lab-based studies have investigated the alcohol priming effect; however, heterogeneity in designs has resulted in some inconsistent findings. The aims of this meta-analysis were to (i) determine the pooled effect size for motivation to drink following priming, measured by alcohol consumption and craving, and (ii) examine whether design characteristics influenced any priming effect.

Does the smell of alcohol make it harder to resist? The impact of olfactory cues on inhibitory control and attentional bias.

Background: It is well known that, owing to associative processing, olfactory cues can impact memory, emotion and behaviour. Research also points to a link between the smells of particular substances and craving. Yet, to date, little research has investigated how smell may impact other cognitive processes that are known to drive alcohol consumption.

Prevalence of at-risk drinking recognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is a prominent "treatment gap" in relation to at-risk drinking (ARD), whereby a minority of at-risk drinkers ever access treatment. Research suggests that recognition of problem drinking is a necessary precursor for help-seeking and treatment.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of ARD recognition within those meeting criteria for ARD.

"Drinkers Like Me": A Thematic Analysis of Comments Responding to an Online Article About Moderating Alcohol Consumption.

Background: There has been media coverage surrounding the dangers of heavy drinking and benefits of moderation, with TV and radio presenter, Adrian Chiles, documenting his experience of moderating alcohol consumption in an online article for the Guardian. By analysing the comments in response to Chiles' article, this study aimed to explore (i) posters' (someone who has posted a comment in response to the article) attitudes or beliefs toward moderating alcohol and (ii) posters' experiences of moderating or abstaining from alcohol.

Method: A secondary qualitative analysis of online comments in response to an article about moderating alcohol consumption.