title: An in vivo study of the relationship between craving and reaction time during alcohol detoxification using the ecological momentary assessment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To study cognitive interference associated with craving for alcohol, the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) method was used to measure the relationship between craving and reaction time. A secondary aim was the study of the predictive factors for craving during alcohol detoxification. The EMA enables both repeated measures of craving in a natural setting and the recording of reaction time without the patient being aware of this.
  
  
  METHODS
  Craving for alcohol, reaction time, sadness and anxiety were recorded 8 to 12 times a day, over three weeks of detoxification in 14 alcoholics (n=1767 measures), on an electronic diary issuing random prompts. Mixed models were used for statistical analysis (alpha=5%, 1-beta=88%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reaction time was significantly increased in univariate analysis when a craving episode occurred but this difference did not persist after multivariate analysis. Craving episodes were more frequent and intense than previously reported. Predictive factors of craving during detoxification were: age, gender, sadness, anxiety and the number of previous detoxifications. Antidepressants, anti-craving medications but not benzodiazepines were negatively associated to craving.
authors.affiliation: INSERM (Institut National pour la Santé et la Recherche Medicale), Paris, France. michael.lukasiewicz@gmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukasiewicz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benyamina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reynaud
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falissard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D018401:Sample Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D001569:Benzodiazepines