Effects of perceived cocaine availability on subjective and objective responses to the drug.
BACKGROUND
Several lines of evidence suggest that cocaine expectancy and craving are two related phenomena. The present study assessed this potential link by contrasting reactions to varying degrees of the drug's perceived availability.


METHODS
Non-treatment seeking individuals with cocaine dependence were administered an intravenous bolus of cocaine (0.2 mg/kg) under 100% ('unblinded'; N = 33) and 33% ('blinded'; N = 12) probability conditions for the delivery of drug. Subjective ratings of craving, high, rush and low along with heart rate and blood pressure measurements were collected at baseline and every minute for 20 minutes following the infusions.


RESULTS
Compared to the 'blinded' subjects, their 'unblinded' counterparts had similar craving scores on a multidimensional assessment several hours before the infusion, but reported higher craving levels on a more proximal evaluation, immediately prior to the receipt of cocaine. Furthermore, the 'unblinded' subjects displayed a more rapid onset of high and rush cocaine responses along with significantly higher cocaine-induced heart rate elevations.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the hypothesis that cocaine expectancy modulates subjective and objective responses to the drug. Provided the important public health policy implications of heavy cocaine use, health policy makers and clinicians alike may favor cocaine craving assessments performed in the settings with access to the drug rather than in more neutral environments as a more meaningful marker of disease staging and assignment to the proper level of care.
Yamamoto
Rinah T
RT
Behavioral Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill St,, Belmont, MA, USA. yamamoto@mclean.harvard.edu
Karlsgodt
Katherine H
KH
Rott
David
D
Lukas
Scott E
SE
Elman
Igor
I
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011640:Public Policy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method