Sign-tracking to non-drug reward is related to severity of alcohol-use problems in a sample of individuals seeking treatment.

Watson, P; Prior, K; Ridley, N; Monds, L; Manning, V; Wiers, RW; Le Pelley, ME

Sign-tracking to non-drug reward is related to severity of alcohol-use problems in a sample of individuals seeking treatment.

Watson, P Prior, K Ridley, N Monds, L Manning, V Wiers, RW Le Pelley, ME

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Addict Behav, 2024, 154, pp. 108010
Issue Date:: 2024-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Watson, P
dc.contributor.author	Prior, K
dc.contributor.author	Ridley, N
dc.contributor.author	Monds, L
dc.contributor.author	Manning, V
dc.contributor.author	Wiers, RW
dc.contributor.author	Le Pelley, ME
dc.date.accessioned	2024-11-05T00:06:26Z
dc.date.available	2024-03-08
dc.date.available	2024-11-05T00:06:26Z
dc.date.issued	2024-07
dc.identifier.citation	Addict Behav, 2024, 154, pp. 108010
dc.identifier.issn	0306-4603
dc.identifier.issn	1873-6327
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181730
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: A prominent neuroscientific theory of drug addiction is the incentive sensitization model. Individual differences in the tendency to ascribe motivational salience to cues that predict reward, and involuntary "sign-tracking" (orientation towards) such cues have been identified as potentially important in understanding vulnerability to addiction and relapse. However, to date this behaviour has not been assessed in a treatment-seeking clinical population, who typically represent those most susceptible to alcohol-related harms and episodes of relapse. This highlights a significant gap in the literature pertaining to incentive sensitization and drug dependence. METHODS: Individuals accessing inpatient drug and alcohol services with alcohol as primary drug of concern were recruited to participate in a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) intervention. At the baseline assessment, participants completed various self-report measures (including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT) in addition to a visual search task measuring sign-tracking to cues signalling monetary reward. At 3-month follow up, abstinence from alcohol was the primary outcome measure. All analyses and hypotheses were pre-registered. RESULTS: At baseline (57 participants), AUDIT scores correlated with sign-tracking to signals of monetary reward. In a subsequent regression analysis sign-tracking, gender and self-reported alcohol craving predicted abstinence at 3-month follow up (41 participants). CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates that involuntary sign-tracking to cues signalling non-drug reward is associated with problematic alcohol use and return to use at 3-month follow up, in a treatment-seeking sample. Whether this automatic prioritisation of cues signalling reward is a consequence or vulnerability for problematic alcohol use remains to be investigated.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Addict Behav
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108010
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse
dc.subject.classification	4206 Public health
dc.subject.classification	5202 Biological psychology
dc.subject.classification	5203 Clinical and health psychology
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Alcoholism
dc.subject.mesh	Reward
dc.subject.mesh	Motivation
dc.subject.mesh	Behavior, Addictive
dc.subject.mesh	Ethanol
dc.subject.mesh	Substance-Related Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Cues
dc.subject.mesh	Recurrence
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Substance-Related Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Alcoholism
dc.subject.mesh	Recurrence
dc.subject.mesh	Ethanol
dc.subject.mesh	Behavior, Addictive
dc.subject.mesh	Motivation
dc.subject.mesh	Cues
dc.subject.mesh	Reward
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Alcoholism
dc.subject.mesh	Reward
dc.subject.mesh	Motivation
dc.subject.mesh	Behavior, Addictive
dc.subject.mesh	Ethanol
dc.subject.mesh	Substance-Related Disorders
dc.subject.mesh	Cues
dc.subject.mesh	Recurrence
dc.title	Sign-tracking to non-drug reward is related to severity of alcohol-use problems in a sample of individuals seeking treatment.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	154
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-11-05T00:06:25Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	154

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A prominent neuroscientific theory of drug addiction is the incentive sensitization model. Individual differences in the tendency to ascribe motivational salience to cues that predict reward, and involuntary "sign-tracking" (orientation towards) such cues have been identified as potentially important in understanding vulnerability to addiction and relapse. However, to date this behaviour has not been assessed in a treatment-seeking clinical population, who typically represent those most susceptible to alcohol-related harms and episodes of relapse. This highlights a significant gap in the literature pertaining to incentive sensitization and drug dependence. METHODS: Individuals accessing inpatient drug and alcohol services with alcohol as primary drug of concern were recruited to participate in a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) intervention. At the baseline assessment, participants completed various self-report measures (including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test; AUDIT) in addition to a visual search task measuring sign-tracking to cues signalling monetary reward. At 3-month follow up, abstinence from alcohol was the primary outcome measure. All analyses and hypotheses were pre-registered. RESULTS: At baseline (57 participants), AUDIT scores correlated with sign-tracking to signals of monetary reward. In a subsequent regression analysis sign-tracking, gender and self-reported alcohol craving predicted abstinence at 3-month follow up (41 participants). CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates that involuntary sign-tracking to cues signalling non-drug reward is associated with problematic alcohol use and return to use at 3-month follow up, in a treatment-seeking sample. Whether this automatic prioritisation of cues signalling reward is a consequence or vulnerability for problematic alcohol use remains to be investigated.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181730