title: Relationship between approach and avoidance inclinations to use alcohol and treatment outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite growing recognition of the importance of multidimensional assessments of craving, little is known about how both approach and avoidance of alcohol inclinations change during the course of treatment, or relate to treatment outcomes. The current study examined the relationship between approach inclinations, avoidance inclinations, and treatment outcomes in individuals seeking treatment for alcohol dependence, and investigated whether changes in approach and avoidance ratings were associated with changes in drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals (n=81) seeking treatment for alcohol dependence were randomized to receive either 12-sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy plus healthy living skills or 12-sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy plus affect regulation training. Participants provided pre- and post- treatment scores on various measures including drinking behaviors and approach and avoidance inclinations to use alcohol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicated that both approach and avoidance inclinations were uniquely and significantly associated with problem recognition, and that avoidance inclinations were uniquely related to taking steps to make a change in alcohol use at baseline. In addition, avoidance inclinations were positively associated with number of sessions attended with no association found for approach ratings. Finally, results suggested that changes observed in drinking outcomes (drinks/day and% days abstinent) were significantly associated with changes in approach, but not avoidance inclinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the importance of measuring both desire to consume and desire to avoid consuming alcohol simultaneously and suggest that avoidance inclinations are associated with treatment initiation and retention, and approach inclinations with positive treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. rschlauch@ria.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Schlauch
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Stasiewicz
authors.forename: Clara M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bradizza
authors.forename: Scott F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Coffey
authors.forename: Suzy B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gulliver
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gudleski
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016896:Treatment Outcome