Sex Differences in Motivation to Self‐Administer Alcohol After 2 Weeks of Abstinence in Young‐Adult Heavy Drinkers

• Published in: Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research clinical and experimental research, 2018-10, Vol.42 (10), p.1897-1908
• Main Authors: Plawecki, Martin Henry, White, Kurt, Kosobud, Ann E. K., Grahame, Nicholas, Zimmermann, Ulrich S., Crabb, David, O'Connor, Sean
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstinence; Administration, Intravenous; Adult; Alcohol; Alcohol Abstinence - psychology; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Alcoholism; Animal models; Binge Drinking - psychology; Breath Tests; Change detection; Drinking behavior; Drug abuse; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Ethanol - pharmacology; Female; Females; Gender differences; Genetics; Human behavior; Humans; Intravenous administration; Male; Males; Motivation; Reinforcement Schedule; Self Administration; Sex; Sex Characteristics; Sex differences; Sex Factors; Sexual behavior; Short‐Term Abstinence; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0145-6008; 1530-0277
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.13860

Background Studies in animal models document that forced abstinence from usual consumption of alcohol changes subsequent seeking and consumption, with increases or decreases depending on the species, duration of abstinence, number of deprivations, and sex. Human laboratory‐based alcohol deprivation studies are rare. Methods We conducted a 2‐session, within‐participant, randomized‐order comparison of intravenous, progressive ratio, alcohol self‐administration during 2.5 hours of progressive work for alcohol and/or vehicle; once while the participants pursued their usual drinking habits and once after 2 weeks of closely monitored, voluntary outpatient abstinence from alcohol. The schedule of work for rewards and the incremental increases in breath alcohol concentration following completion of an alcohol work‐set were identical across participants. Fifty young‐adult (27 men), heavy‐drinking participants completed both sessions. Our primary hypothesis was that motivation to work for alcohol after 2 weeks of abstinence would be greater in participants with a weekly binge pattern of drinking, compared to those who regularly drink heavily, and we intended to explore associations with biological family history of alcoholism and sex. Results We detected no change in work for alcohol associated with recent drinking history. However, females, on average, increased their work for alcohol upon resumption after 2 weeks of abstinence (mean ± SEM = +16.3 ± 9.6%), while males decreased that work (−24.8 ± 13.8%). The sex difference was substantial and significant (p