Diazepam dose-dependently increases or decreases implicit priming of alcohol associations in problem drinkers.
OBJECTIVE
Words denoting negative affect (NEG) have been found to prime alcohol-related words (ALC) on semantic priming tasks, and this effect is tied to severity of addiction. Previous research suggested that high doses of benzodiazepines may dampen NEG-ALC priming. The present study tested this possibility and the role of motivation for alcohol in this process.


METHODS
A placebo-controlled, double blind, between-within, counterbalanced design was employed. Two groups of male problem drinkers (n = 6/group) received a high (15-mg) or low (5-mg) dose of diazepam versus placebo on two identical test sessions. A lexical decision task assessed priming.


RESULTS
Under placebo, significant NEG-->ALC priming emerged in each group. High-dose diazepam selectively reversed this effect, while low-dose selectively enhanced it. Correlations between NEG-->ALC priming and desire for alcohol provided further support that semantic priming of ALC concepts reflects a motivational process. The bi-directional effects found here parallel the effects of high- versus low-dose benzodiazepines on alcohol self-administration in animals.


CONCLUSIONS
High-dose diazepam reduces prime-induced activation of ALC concepts in problem drinkers. Low-dose diazepam facilitates this process, and cross-priming of motivation for alcohol appears to explain this effect. Neurochemical modulation of the alcohol memory network may contribute to the motivational effects of benzodiazepines in problem drinkers.
Zack
Martin
M
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. martin_zack@camh.net
Poulos
Constantine X
CX
Woodford
Tracy M
TM
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001244:Association; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003657:Decision Making; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D014825:Vocabulary
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003975:Diazepam