Physiological and Endocrine Reactions to Psychosocial Stress in Alcohol Use Disorders: Duration of Abstinence Matters

Background Recent research findings suggest that heavy alcohol use is associated with alterations of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system function and that early abstinence is associated with blunted stress responsiveness. Methods This study investigated abstinent alc...

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Published in:Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research clinical and experimental research, 2013-08, Vol.37 (8), p.1343-1350
Main Authors: Starcke, Katrin, van Holst, Ruth J., van den Brink, Wim, Veltman, Dick J., Goudriaan, Anna E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alcohol Abstinence - psychology
Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol-Related Disorders - physiopathology
Alcohol-Related Disorders - psychology
Case-Control Studies
Cortisol
Heart Rate
Humans
Hydrocortisone - secretion
Male
Middle Aged
Problem Drinking
Smoking - physiopathology
Stress
Stress, Psychological
Time Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:Background Recent research findings suggest that heavy alcohol use is associated with alterations of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system function and that early abstinence is associated with blunted stress responsiveness. Methods This study investigated abstinent alcohol‐dependent participants (AADs; n = 31), who had a drinking history of levels about 97 drinks per week (abstinence range: 2 weeks to 24 months), actively drinking problem drinkers (PRDs; n = 23), who reported drinking levels about 47 drinks per week and who were abstinent for at least 24 hours, and healthy control (HC) participants (n = 20). It was investigated how participants responded to a psychosocial stress task. All of them were exposed to a modified Trier Social Stress Test. Salivary cortisol, heart rate, skin conductance levels, and negative affect were assessed as stress indicators. Results AADs showed stress reactions comparable to HC participants, whereas active PRDs showed increased heart rate and cortisol stress responses. In the AAD group, duration of abstinence was positively related to cortisol stress responses. Conclusions Active PRDs showed increased responses to psychosocial stress. Results indicate that duration of abstinence is a key factor when analyzing and interpreting stress responses in alcohol abuse and dependence.
ISSN:0145-6008
1530-0277
DOI:10.1111/acer.12103