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Measurement of Drug Liking in Abuse Potential Studies: A Comparison of Unipolar and Bipolar Visual Analog Scales
Author(s) -
Setnik Beatrice,
Roland Carl L.,
Pixton Glenn,
Webster Lynn
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/jcph.801
Subject(s) - visual analogue scale , placebo , cohort , context (archaeology) , medicine , crossover study , oxycodone , opioid , substance abuse , psychiatry , anesthesia , psychology , clinical psychology , physical therapy , paleontology , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology , biology
Abuse liability studies usually measure drug liking using 100‐mm visual analog scales (VAS), presented as unipolar (liking measured on entire scale) or bipolar (liking and disliking measured with a neutral midpoint). These 2 types of VAS were compared using drug liking ratings from a randomized double‐blind crossover study of immediate‐release and controlled‐release oxycodone in 2 cohorts of nondependent recreational opioid users. Cohort 1 (n = 19) received intact oxycodone 40 mg, intact OxyContin ® 40 and 80 mg, crushed OxyContin ® 40 mg, and placebo, while cohort 2 (n = 16) received intact oxycodone 20, 40, and 80 mg and placebo. In general, bipolar and unipolar ratings were positively correlated (r = 0.72) for all values (n = 2,477). E max for both scales generally had higher correlation than individual responses for active drug or placebo. The correlation for individual scores after placebo treatment for the 2 scales was poor in both cohorts (r = –0.11, cohort 1 and r = 0.17, cohort 2). Both scales performed similarly within the context of the study, but bipolar scales can also assess disliking, which may be a consideration depending on anticipated drug effects. Appropriate participant training on the use of these scales is also necessary to reduce variability.