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- Title
Bibi ergo sum: the effects of a placebo and contextual alcohol cues on motivation to drink alcohol.
- Authors
Christiansen, Paul; Townsend, Gareth; Knibb, Graeme; Field, Matt
- Abstract
Rationale: Acute 'priming' doses of alcohol reliably increase alcohol-seeking behaviour in social drinkers. However, the effects of the anticipated (rather than pharmacological) effects of alcohol, and their interaction with contextual alcohol cues, are not well understood. Objectives: This study aims to determine the extent to which an alcohol-placebo drink increases craving, subjective intoxication and beer consumption, while conjointly investigating the impact of contextual alcohol cues. Methods: On a within-subject basis, 64 undergraduate social drinkers consumed both a placebo (which they believed to contain alcohol) and a control drink (which they knew did not contain alcohol) in different sessions. Participants completed the study procedures in a bar laboratory designed to look like a 'pub' or a standard psychology lab containing no alcohol-related cues. Craving (Desires for Alcohol Questionnaire) and subjective intoxication were measured pre- and post-drink, and a bogus taste test to measure ad-lib alcohol consumption was completed at the end of each session. Results: Compared to the control drink, placebo significantly increased craving, ad-lib consumption and subjective intoxication, regardless of environmental context. Conclusions: Increased craving and ad-lib alcohol consumption after consuming a priming dose of alcohol is at least partly attributable to the anticipated rather than the pharmacological effects of the priming dose.
- Subjects
PLACEBOS; PHYSIOLOGICAL effects of alcohol; MOTIVATION (Psychology); ALCOHOL drinking; PRIMING (Psychology); DESIRE; PSYCHOLOGY
- Publication
Psychopharmacology, 2017, Vol 234, Issue 5, p827
- ISSN
0033-3158
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00213-016-4518-0