title: γ Hydroxybutyrate use: exploring the influence of outcome expectancies through memory modeling.
abstract: Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been linked to overdose, criminal surreptitious administration, the need for emergency medical care, and fatalities worldwide. To begin to identify and understand the motivational factors that lead to the use of GHB, the present investigation utilized methods that have been successful in identifying potential expectancy targets and have been incorporated into prevention and intervention strategies successful in reducing high-risk alcohol use. In the present investigation, GHB expectancies were elicited from 926 voluntary participants aged 18-60 at a university in the southeastern United States to develop the GHB Expectancy Questionnaire (GHBEQ). The GHBEQ was subsequently administered to a different sample of 1,373 participants aged 18-55 in order to empirically derive the possible organization of GHB expectancies in memory, including likely paths of GHB expectancy activation. Findings suggest differences in GHB expectancies based on use history and sex. These results can be used to understand differences in GHB use for men and women, and to develop expectancy-based prevention and intervention programming to prevent and reduce its use in high-risk populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA. pamela.brown@knights.ucf.edu
authors.forename: Pamela C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D012978:Sodium Oxybate