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Changes in cocaine consumption are associated with fluctuations in self-reported impulsivity and gambling decision-making

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2015

L. M. Hulka ,
M. Vonmoos ,
K. H. Preller ,
M. R. Baumgartner ,
E. Seifritz ,
A. Gamma  and
B. B. Quednow
L. M. Hulka*
Affiliation:
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
M. Vonmoos*
Affiliation:
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
K. H. Preller
Affiliation:
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
M. R. Baumgartner
Affiliation:
Center of Forensic Hairanalytics, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
E. Seifritz
Affiliation:
Director of the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
A. Gamma
Affiliation:
Division of ADHD Research, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
B. B. Quednow
Affiliation:
Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
*
* Address for correspondence: L. M. Hulka, PhD, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. (Email: lea.hulka@bli.uzh.ch) [L.M.H.] (Email: matthias.vonmoos@bli.uzh.ch) [M.V.]
* Address for correspondence: L. M. Hulka, PhD, Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. (Email: lea.hulka@bli.uzh.ch) [L.M.H.] (Email: matthias.vonmoos@bli.uzh.ch) [M.V.]
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Abstract

Background.

In cross-sectional studies, cocaine users generally display elevated levels of self-reported and cognitive impulsivity. To what extent these impairments are stable v. variable markers of cocaine use disorder, and, thus, are pre-existing or drug-induced, has not yet been systematically investigated.

Method.

We conducted a longitudinal study with cocaine users who changed or maintained their consumption intensity, measuring self-reported impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and cognitive impulsivity with the Rapid Visual Processing task (RVP), Iowa Gambling task (IGT), and Delay Discounting task (DD) at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. We assessed 48 psychostimulant-naive controls and 19 cocaine users with decreased, 19 users with increased, and 19 users with unchanged cocaine intake after 1 year as confirmed by hair analysis.

Results.

Results of linear multilevel modelling showed significant group × time interactions for the BIS-11 total score and the IGT total card ratio. Increasers showed a trend for elevated scores, whereas decreasers exhibited reduced self-reported impulsivity scores within 1 year. Surprisingly, increasers’ IGT performance was improved after 1 year, whereas decreasers’ performance deteriorated. By contrast, neither RVP response bias B″ nor DD total score showed substantial group × time interactions. Importantly, BIS-11 and DD revealed strong test–retest reliabilities.

Conclusion.

Self-reported impulsivity (BIS-11) and decision-making impulsivity (IGT) covary with changing cocaine use, whereas response bias and delay discounting remain largely unaffected. Thus, self-reported impulsivity and gambling decision-making were strongly state-dependent in a stimulant-using population and may be suitable to monitor treatment success, whereas delay of gratification was confirmed as a potential endophenotype of stimulant addiction.

Keywords

Addictiondrug dependenceimpulse controlintertemporal choiceplanningstimulantstemporal discounting

Information

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 14 , October 2015 , pp. 3097 - 3110
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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