Differences of photographs inducing craving between alcoholics and non-alcoholics.
Many researchers have used cue reactivity paradigm to study alcohol craving. But the difference of craving response to drinks between alcoholic patients and social drinkers was little evaluated. To investigate characteristics of alcohol-related visual cues which induce alcohol craving in alcoholism, we examined the response of subjects to alcohol-related cues considering qualitative aspects. The authors developed 27 photographs related to alcohol as candidate visual cues. Thirty five patients with alcohol dependence, 35 heavy drinkers and 35 social drinkers were shown these pictures and asked to rate these 6 pictures in order of inducing alcohol craving the most. 'A glass of Soju' and 'A Party scene' were chosen as the alcohol-related visual cues which induced craving the most in the patients and heavy drinkers, respectively. The results suggest that the patients with alcohol dependence are more absorbed by alcohol without drinking context such as an atmosphere or situation involving drinking. Heavy drinkers may experience craving in anticipation of being in a drinking situation.
Lee
Eun
E
Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Namkoong
Kee
K
Lee
Choong Heon
CH
An
Suk Kyoon
SK
Lee
Byung Ook
BO
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001519:Behavior; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003463:Cues; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010775:Photic Stimulation