Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
Attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence: influence of coexisting psychopathology. |
| Authors: |
Sinclair, Julia M.A., Garner, Matthew, Pasche, Sonja C., Wood, Thomas B., Baldwin, David S. |
| Source: |
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental. Nov2016, Vol. 31 Issue 6, p395-401. 7p. |
| Subjects: |
Attentional bias, Alcoholism, Adolescent psychopathology, Mental depression, Cross-sectional method, Anxiety |
| Abstract: |
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: |
Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
