Citation

Czapla M, Simon JJ, Friederich HC, Herpertz SC, Zimmermann P, Loeber S. Eur. Addict. Res. 2014; 21(2): 105-113.

Affiliation

Department of General Psychiatry, Medical University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Karger Publishers)

DOI

10.1159/000367939

PMID

25428114

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Little is known about the association of binge drinking with impulsivity related to trait- or state-like aspects of behavior. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether binge drinkers show an impairment of inhibitory control in comparison to non-binge drinkers when confronted with alcohol-associated or control stimuli, and whether this is reflected in self-reported impulsivity.

METHODS: A go/no-go task with pictures of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages as well as control stimuli was administered to binge drinkers and a gender-matched group of non-binge drinkers. All participants also completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).

RESULTS: We found an alcohol-specific impairment of response inhibition for binge drinkers only, while the groups did not differ with regard to overall response inhibition to the experimental stimuli or self-reported impulsiveness (BIS-11). In addition, the number of commission errors in response to alcohol-associated stimuli was the only significant predictor of binge drinking.

CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that when young adults have established binge drinking as a common drinking pattern, impairment of inhibition in response to alcoholic stimuli is the only significant predictor of binge drinking, but not general impulsive behavior. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Language: en