%0 Journal Article
%T Alcohol-dependent individuals discount sex at higher rates than controls
%J Drug and alcohol dependence
%D 2013
%A Jarmolowicz, David P.
%A Bickel, Warren K.
%A Gatchalian, Kirstin M.
%V 131
%N 3
%P 320-323
%X BACKGROUND: Research on delay discounting has expanded our understanding of substance dependence in many ways. Recently, orderly discounting of sexual rewards has been demonstrated in both substance-dependent individuals, and healthy controls. Less clear, however, is if rates of sexual discounting are higher than controls in alcohol-dependent-individuals. METHODS: 20 alcohol-dependent individuals and 21 healthy control participants completed two delay-discounting tasks. One task involved monetary rewards, whereas the other involved the discounting of sexual rewards (i.e., number of sex acts). RESULTS: Alcohol dependent individuals discounted sexual rewards at significantly higher rates than did controls. There was a trend toward, but not a similarly significant relation for the discounting of monetary rewards. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of sexual discounting are elevated in alcohol dependent individuals. If this relation is replicated in other at risk populations, the rapid devaluation of sexual rewards may be a laboratory marker of impulsive sexual choices.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 0376-8716
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.12.014