Attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence: influence of coexisting psychopathology.

Abstract

The effects of coexisting psychopathology on disorder-specific attentional biases in patients with alcohol dependence are uncertain. We undertook a cross-sectional study assessing attentional biases to alcohol-, depression-, and anxiety- related stimuli using the visual probe task in patients with alcohol dependence, attending a community alcohol service. Using the visual probe task, we presented disorder-specific words (relating to alcohol, anxiety, and depression) for 500ms and measured reaction times. Participants demonstrated a significant attentional bias towards alcohol-related cues (mean 8.5, p=0.03) but significant avoidance of depression-related cues (mean-8.4, p=0.01). The subgroup of participants who were recently abstinent (n=70) showed greatest avoidance of depression-related cues (t(69)=2.68, p<0.01) but no significant vigilance towards alcohol or anxiety cues, whereas those still drinking (n=43) showed attentional biases towards alcohol-related (t(42)=2.70, p=0.01) and social anxiety-related cues (t(42)=2.84, p<0.01). In the whole sample, the magnitude of attentional bias to alcohol was not correlated with length of drinking history, number of comorbid conditions, or severity of anxiety/depression. In a clinical sample of alcohol-dependent patients, further investigation is required to explore whether these attentional biases reflect current drinking status or factors indicating prognosis.