Effects of contextual priming on reactions to craving and withdrawal stimuli in alcohol-dependent participants

Barbara Feldtkeller, Aviv Weinstein, W. Miles Cox, David Nutt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The researchers investigated craving for alcohol using a computerized contextual priming task involving alcohol-related or alcohol-unrelated words and nonwords under 2 priming conditions in 3 groups of alcohol-dependent participants who had abstained from alcohol for 3 to 14 days, 15 days to 6 months, or more than 6 months. Results indicated that participants who had abstained up to 14 days reacted more slowly to alcohol-related words that followed sentences describing avoidance of withdrawal than did control participants. Furthermore, the first 2 groups of participants reacted more slowly to alcohol-related words that followed craving sentences, compared with neutral words following neutral sentences. The results give preliminary support to the withdrawal and craving models of addiction rather than models that separate craving and withdrawal in early abstinence. Results are discussed in light of current cognitive approaches to alcohol dependence.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)343-351
Number of pages9
JournalExperimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of contextual priming on reactions to craving and withdrawal stimuli in alcohol-dependent participants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this