title: Influence of naltrexone on cue-elicited craving among hazardous drinkers: the moderational role of positive outcome expectancies.
abstract: This study was designed to elucidate mechanisms by which naltrexone (NTX) influences drinking among hazardous drinkers. Thirty-six hazardous drinkers received 50 mg NTX or placebo on 2 separate occasions before participation in a taste test procedure with low-alcohol beer. Urges to drink before consumption, beer volume consumed, and perceived stimulation and sedation after consumption were assessed. Although NTX did not influence beer consumption, hazardous drinkers who reported high positive reinforcement expectancies rated their urges to drink as significantly lower when they were on NTX compared with placebo. Positive outcome expectancies also moderated the effects of NTX on subjective reports of stimulation following drinking. These findings suggest that naltrexone may be particularly effective at reducing alcohol cue-elicited positive reinforcement for those with high positive alcohol outcome expectancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215, USA. palfai@bu.edu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palfai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swift
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D001515:Beer; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003463:Cues; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone