Dataset Information

Bibi ergo sum: the effects of a placebo and contextual alcohol cues on motivation to drink alcohol.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Acute 'priming' doses of alcohol reliably increase alcohol-seeking behaviour in social drinkers. However, the effects of the anticipated (rather than pharmacological) effects of alcohol, and their interaction with contextual alcohol cues, are not well understood.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the extent to which an alcohol-placebo drink increases craving, subjective intoxication and beer consumption, while conjointly investigating the impact of contextual alcohol cues.

Methods

On a within-subject basis, 64 undergraduate social drinkers consumed both a placebo (which they believed to contain alcohol) and a control drink (which they knew did not contain alcohol) in different sessions. Participants completed the study procedures in a bar laboratory designed to look like a 'pub' or a standard psychology lab containing no alcohol-related cues. Craving (Desires for Alcohol Questionnaire) and subjective intoxication were measured pre- and post-drink, and a bogus taste test to measure ad-lib alcohol consumption was completed at the end of each session.

Results

Compared to the control drink, placebo significantly increased craving, ad-lib consumption and subjective intoxication, regardless of environmental context.

Conclusions

Increased craving and ad-lib alcohol consumption after consuming a priming dose of alcohol is at least partly attributable to the anticipated rather than the pharmacological effects of the priming dose.

SUBMITTER: Christiansen P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5306434 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Bibi ergo sum: the effects of a placebo and contextual alcohol cues on motivation to drink alcohol.

Christiansen Paul P Townsend Gareth G Knibb Graeme G Field Matt M

Psychopharmacology 20170107 5

<h4>Rationale</h4>Acute 'priming' doses of alcohol reliably increase alcohol-seeking behaviour in social drinkers. However, the effects of the anticipated (rather than pharmacological) effects of alcohol, and their interaction with contextual alcohol cues, are not well understood.<h4>Objectives</h4>This study aims to determine the extent to which an alcohol-placebo drink increases craving, subjective intoxication and beer consumption, while conjointly investigating the impact of contextual alcoh ...[more]

PMID: 28062899

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Project description:Aims(1) To compare affective changes over drinking and non-drinking days among frequent drinkers and (2) to evaluate whether drinkers' expectations influence affective changes and perceived pleasure and relief from drinking.DesignObservational study involving ecological momentary assessments collected via electronic diaries during the course of 3 weeks.SettingDrinkers' usual settings in Columbia, MO, USA.ParticipantsA total of 400 adult, frequent drinkers, aged 18-70 years.MeasurementsEcological assessments included morning reports, pre-drinking random prompts, user-initiated first-drink reports and device-prompted follow-ups over drinking episodes. Participants rated positive (enthusiastic, excited, happy) and negative (distressed, sad) affect and perceived pleasure and relief from drinking in real time. A self-report questionnaire completed at baseline evaluated expectancies for enhanced sociability and tension reduction from drinking.FindingsRelative to affective changes over non-drinking days, positive affect increased prior to drinking [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.004, 0.023], and at first drink (95% CI = 0.238, 0.317), whereas negative affect decreased prior to drinking (95% CI = - 0.007, 0.000) and at first drink (95% CI = - 0.154, - 0.098). Sociability expectancies augmented increases in positive affect prior to drinking (95% CI = 0.009, 0.027) and at first drink (95% CI = 0.017, 0.169). Sociability expectancies also enhanced perceived pleasure from first drinks (95% CI = 0.046, 0.318). Tension-reduction expectancies attenuated decreases in negative affect at first drink (95% CI = - 0.133, - 0.029), but augmented perceived relief from first drinks (95% CI = 0.001, 0.304).ConclusionsAlthough theoretical models tend to focus on negative affective outcomes of drinking, changes in positive affect prior to drinking and early in drinking episodes are important for maintaining drinking behavior. Frequent drinkers' expectations for enhanced sociability or tension reduction from drinking influence their affective experiences over drinking days and perceptions of pleasure and relief from drinking.

Dataset Information

Bibi ergo sum: the effects of a placebo and contextual alcohol cues on motivation to drink alcohol.

Rationale

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Bibi ergo sum: the effects of a placebo and contextual alcohol cues on motivation to drink alcohol.

Similar Datasets

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