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Attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence: influence of coexisting psychopathology
Author(s) -
Sinclair Julia M.A.,
Garner Matthew,
Pasche Sonja C.,
Wood Thomas B.,
Baldwin David S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2549
Subject(s) - attentional bias , anxiety , psychopathology , psychology , alcohol dependence , depression (economics) , alcohol , vigilance (psychology) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , audiology , medicine , cognitive psychology , biochemistry , chemistry , economics , macroeconomics
Objective The effects of coexisting psychopathology on disorder‐specific attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence are uncertain. We undertook a cross‐sectional study assessing attentional biases to alcohol‐, depression‐, and anxiety‐ related stimuli using the visual probe task in patients with alcohol dependence, attending a community alcohol service. Methods Using the visual probe task, we presented disorder‐specific words (relating to alcohol, anxiety, and depression) for 500 ms and measured reaction times. Results Participants demonstrated a significant attentional bias towards alcohol‐related cues (mean 8.5, p  = 0.03) but significant avoidance of depression‐related cues (mean −8.4, p  = 0.01). The subgroup of participants who were recently abstinent ( n  = 70) showed greatest avoidance of depression‐related cues ( t (69) = 2.68, p  < 0.01) but no significant vigilance towards alcohol or anxiety cues, whereas those still drinking ( n  = 43) showed attentional biases towards alcohol‐related ( t (42) = 2.70, p  = 0.01) and social anxiety‐related cues ( t (42) = 2.84, p  < 0.01). In the whole sample, the magnitude of attentional bias to alcohol was not correlated with length of drinking history, number of comorbid conditions, or severity of anxiety/depression. Conclusions In a clinical sample of alcohol‐dependent patients, further investigation is required to explore whether these attentional biases reflect current drinking status or factors indicating prognosis.

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