The relationship between impaired control, impulsivity, and alcohol self-administration in nondependent drinkers

Abstract

Impaired control over drinking is a significant marker of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and a potential target of intervention (Heather, Tebbutt, Mattick, & Zamir, 1993; Leeman, Toll, Taylor, & Volpicelli, 2009). Impaired control may be related to, but conceptually distinct from, impulsivity (Leeman, Patock-Peckham, & Potenza, 2012; Leeman, Ralevski, et al., 2014). However, the relationship between impaired control, impulsivity, and alcohol consumption, particularly in nondependent drinkers is less clear. This study aimed to characterize these relationships using a free-access intravenous alcohol self-administration (IV-ASA) paradigm in nondependent drinkers (N = 48). Results showed individuals with higher self-reported impaired control achieved higher blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) during the IV-ASA session and reported greater hedonic subjective responses to alcohol. Higher impaired control was also associated with greater positive urgency and reward sensitivity. Moderated-mediation analysis showed that the relationship between positive urgency and peak BAC was mediated by impaired control, and partially moderated by subjective alcohol response. These findings highlight the critical role of impaired control over drinking on alcohol consumption and subjective responses in nondependent drinkers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Figure 1.. Impaired Control and IV Alcohol Self-Administration.

These regressions show how Attempted Control predicted Peak BAC (Panel A) and Total Ethanol consumed (Panel B). Sex was included as an independent variable in these regression models and was not significant.

Figure 2.. Impaired Control and Subjective Response During IV-ASA.

Attempted Control predicted scores of DEQ Peak “Liking” (Panel A) and Peak “Want More” (Panel B). Failed Control also predicted the DEQ measures of Peak “Liking” (Panel C) and Peak “Want More” (Panel D). Sex was included as an independent variable in these regression models and was not significant.

Figure 3.. Impaired Control, Impulsivity and Sensitivity to Reward.

The UPPS-P measure Positive Urgency predicted Attempted Control (Panel A) and the SPSRQ measure of Sensitivity to Reward also predicted Attempted Control (Panel B). Sex was included as an independent variable in these regression models and was not significant.

Figure 4.. Moderated Mediation Model Using DEQ Liking as a Moderator Between Attempted Control and Peak BAC.

This model presents a trend level effect of DEQ “Liking” as a moderator of the mediating effect of attempted control on the relationship between Positive Urgency and Peak BAC. There was a significant indirect effect of positive urgency on Peak BAC through Attempted Control, but only at the lower values of DEQ “Liking”.