Drug-related cues exacerbate decision making and increase craving in heroin addicts at different abstinence times.
Summary of "Drug-related cues exacerbate decision making and increase craving in heroin addicts at different abstinence times."
RATIONALE:
Relapse is a persistent problem in the management of addiction. Drug-related cues are powerful instigators of relapse. Impulsive decision making may contribute to relapse through a poorly considered assessment of the consequences of drug use. Drug cues robustly increase subjective craving, which is frequently associated with relapse.
OBJECTIVE:
The present study explored the effects of drug-related cues on decision making and craving in heroin addicts at different abstinence times: 1, 3, 12, and 24 months.
METHODS:
The 75 male participants were given 5 min exposure to neutral and drug-associated cues while decision making performance, craving, blood pressure, heart rate, and emotional state pre- and post-exposure were assessed. The Iowa Gambling Task was used to evaluate decision making ability in heroin addicts.
RESULTS:
Drug-related cues exacerbated impulsive decision making and increased craving, heart rate, and systolic pressure in heroin addicts at all abstinence times.
CONCLUSIONS:
Drug-related cues aggravated decision making and increased craving in former heroin addicts who had been drug-free for 1-24 months, which might have significant clinical implications for the prevention of relapse.
Affiliation
National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Psychopharmacology
ISSN: 1432-2072
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22207241
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-011-2617-5
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Decision Support Techniques
Mathematical or statistical procedures used as aids in making a decision. They are frequently used in medical decision-making.
Decision Making, Computer-assisted
Use of an interactive computer system designed to assist the physician or other health professional in choosing between certain relationships or variables for the purpose of making a diagnostic or therapeutic decision.
Decision Making
The process of making a selective intellectual judgment when presented with several complex alternatives consisting of several variables, and usually defining a course of action or an idea.
United States Office Of National Drug Control Policy
A component of the Executive Office of the President established by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. The Office establishes policies, priorities, and objectives for national DRUG AND NARCOTIC CONTROL. The goals of the program are to reduce illicit drug use, manufacturing, and trafficking, drug-related crime and violence, and drug-related health consequences.
Decision Support Systems, Clinical
Computer-based information systems used to integrate clinical and patient information and provide support for decision-making in patient care.
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