Cessation and reduction in alcohol consumption and misuse after psychedelic use

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1088-1101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Garcia-Romeu ◽  
Alan K Davis ◽  
Fire Erowid ◽  
Earth Erowid ◽  
Roland R Griffiths ◽  
...  

Background:Meta-analysis of randomized studies using lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) for alcohol use disorder (AUD) showed large, significant effects for LSD efficacy compared to control conditions. Clinical studies suggest potential anti-addiction effects of LSD and mechanistically-related classic psychedelics for alcohol and other substance use disorders.Aims:To supplement clinical studies, reports of psychedelic use in naturalistic settings can provide further data regarding potential effects of psychedelics on alcohol use.Methods:An anonymous online survey of individuals with prior AUD reporting cessation or reduction in alcohol use following psychedelic use in non-clinical settings.Results:343 respondents, mostly White (89%), males (78%), in the USA (60%) completed the survey. Participants reported seven years of problematic alcohol use on average before the psychedelic experience to which they attributed reduced alcohol consumption, with 72% meeting retrospective criteria for severe AUD. Most reported taking a moderate or high dose of LSD (38%) or psilocybin (36%), followed by significant reduction in alcohol consumption. After the psychedelic experience 83% no longer met AUD criteria. Participants rated their psychedelic experience as highly meaningful and insightful, with 28% endorsing psychedelic-associated changes in life priorities or values as facilitating reduced alcohol misuse. Greater psychedelic dose, insight, mystical-type effects, and personal meaning of experiences were associated with a greater reduction in alcohol consumption, controlling for prior alcohol consumption and related distress.Conclusions:Although results cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that naturalistic psychedelic use may lead to cessation or reduction in problematic alcohol use, supporting further investigation of psychedelic-assisted treatment for AUD.

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (13) ◽  
pp. 2288-2301 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wilson ◽  
J. L. Bair ◽  
K. M. Thomas ◽  
W. G. Iacono

BackgroundA number of studies reports reduced hippocampal volume in individuals who engage in problematic alcohol use. However, the magnitude of the difference in hippocampal volume between individuals with v. without problematic alcohol use has varied widely, and there have been null findings. Moreover, the studies comprise diverse alcohol use constructs and samples, including clinically significant alcohol use disorders and subclinical but problematic alcohol use (e.g. binge drinking), adults and adolescents, and males and females.MethodsWe conducted the first quantitative synthesis of the published empirical research on associations between problematic alcohol use and hippocampal volume. In total, 23 studies were identified and selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis; effects sizes were aggregated using a random-effects model.ResultsProblematic alcohol use was associated with significantly smaller hippocampal volume (d = −0.53). Moderator analyses indicated that effects were stronger for clinically significant v. subclinical alcohol use and among adults relative to adolescents; effects did not differ among males and females.ConclusionsProblematic alcohol use is associated with reduced hippocampal volume. The moderate overall effect size suggests the need for larger samples than are typically included in studies of alcohol use and hippocampal volume. Because the existing literature is almost entirely cross-sectional, future research using causally informative study designs is needed to determine whether this association reflects premorbid risk for the development of problematic alcohol use and/or whether alcohol has a neurotoxic effect on the hippocampus.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Zhou ◽  
Julia M. Sealock ◽  
Sandra Sanchez-Roige ◽  
Toni-Kim Clarke ◽  
Daniel Levey ◽  
...  

AbstractProblematic alcohol use (PAU) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified PAU risk genes, the genetic architecture of this trait is not fully understood. We conducted a proxy-phenotype meta-analysis of PAU combining alcohol use disorder and problematic drinking in 435,563 European-ancestry individuals. We identified 29 independent risk variants, 19 of them novel. PAU was genetically correlated with 138 phenotypes, including substance use and psychiatric traits. Phenome-wide polygenic risk score analysis in an independent biobank sample (BioVU, n=67,589) confirmed the genetic correlations between PAU and substance use and psychiatric disorders. Genetic heritability of PAU was enriched in brain and in genomic conserved and regulatory regions. Mendelian randomization suggested causal effects on liability to PAU of substance use, psychiatric status, risk-taking behavior, and cognitive performance. In summary, this large PAU meta-analysis identified novel risk loci and revealed genetic relationships with numerous other outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S118-S118
Author(s):  
D. Vladimirov ◽  
S. Niemelä ◽  
J. Auvinen ◽  
M. Timonen ◽  
S. Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi ◽  
...  

BackgroundLongitudinal studies on how temperament is related to alcohol use in general population are scarce.ObjectivesFinding relations with temperament and problematic alcohol use using prospective birth cohort data.AimsTo investigate trends in self-reported alcohol consumption in adulthood.MethodsIn the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (n = 5247), alcohol use was studied with questionnaires at ages 31 and 46. Participants were classified into abstainers, bingers, heavy drinkers, steady drinkers, increasers or reducers based on the change in consumption (g/day). Cloninger's TCI-scores were calculated for each group. Multinomial regression analysis was conducted with TCI-scores as factors influencing the change in alcohol consumption.ResultsHigh novelty seeking was associated with increased consumption, binging and heavy drinking among both sexes at both time points (P < 0.01). Lower persistence was associated with increased consumption at both time points among men and among women at age 46. Baseline novelty seeking predicted both increasing (OR 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0–1.1) and reducing (1.1; 1.0–1.1) for men and for women also increasing (1.1; 1.0–1.1) and reducing (1.1; 1.0–1.1), but when adjusted with baseline alcohol use novelty seeking only predicted increasing for men (1.0; 1.0–1.1).ConclusionsHigh novelty seeking and low persistence are associated with problematic alcohol use among middle-aged Northern Finns. Gender differences in predictors existed: novelty seeking predicted increase only for men in the adjusted model. Temperament scores do not seem to affect strongly changes in alcohol use.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 809-818 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Zhou ◽  
Julia M. Sealock ◽  
Sandra Sanchez-Roige ◽  
Toni-Kim Clarke ◽  
Daniel F. Levey ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-184
Author(s):  
Kelly Deegan ◽  
Beth A. Kotchick

The purpose of the present study was to examine the correlation between certain personality traits, one’s alcohol use, and owning a fake ID. Many college students use fake IDs to obtain alcohol while underage, which is then related to higher rates of problematic alcohol use. Problematic alcohol use has a number of negative health consequences; as such, efforts to prevent problematic alcohol use among college students need to be identified. The study was conducted with a college student population using an online survey to assess the personality traits of extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience as predictors of fake ID ownership. The relation between fake ID ownership and problematic alcohol use was also assessed. Those who owned a fake ID scored higher in extraversion, t(151) = 2.10, p = .037, d = 0.34, and roblematic alcohol use, t(120) = 2.61, p = .02, d = 0.42, and lower in neuroticism, t(151) = −1.94, p = .054. d = −0.36, and openness to experience, t(151) = −2.48, p = .01, d = −0.40, than those who did not own a fake ID. The results of this study can aid in identifying who among the college student population should be targeted with alternate socializing events to prevent fake ID ownership and problematic alcohol use.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Mary Carlton Colbert ◽  
Scott A Funkhouser ◽  
Emma C Johnson ◽  
Charles A Hoeffer ◽  
Marissa A Ehringer ◽  
...  

Anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders are common psychiatric illnesses. Comorbidity of the two disorders can have a tremendous effect on treatment of one or both disorders, as well as an individual's social, economic, and physical well-being. We estimated genome-wide genetic correlations between anxiety and alcohol use traits using linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and found strong and positive correlations of anxiety with problematic alcohol use (PAU), but not with most alcohol consumption (AC) measures. We observed strong, positive between-sex genetic correlations for all traits, but found suggestive evidence that the genetic correlation between alcohol use and anxiety might differ between males and females. Estimates of local genetic covariance demonstrated divergent genetic covariance profiles of PAU and AC with anxiety phenotypes and localized 12 specific genomic regions that likely contribute to both anxiety and alcohol use. Finally, partitioning the genetic covariance among functional annotations also identified the amygdala, caudate basal ganglia and frontal cortex as contributing significantly to positive genetic covariance between anxiety and PAU phenotypes. This study serves as a framework for an approach to be used in future analyses of the genetics of comorbid disorders.


2018 ◽  
pp. 48-52
Author(s):  
N. V. Hmara

Objective: to study the effect of alcohol on formation of a hostile position in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Material and methods. A comparative, cross-sectional, one-stage study of persons suffering from schizophrenia up to 5 years over 2015-2017 has been performed. The following evaluation methods were used: hostile attributive style - the AIHQ scale (D. R. Combs et аl., 2007), screening for alcohol use - the ASSIST scale (R. Humeniuk et al., 2008), severity of psychopathological symptoms - the PANSS scale (S. Kay, L. Opler, 1986). Results. The group with a low «risk level» of problematic alcohol use revealed the lowest indices by the PANSS «Paranoid Militancy» and «PANSS-Hostility» subscales. The comparison of psychometric parameters by the AIHQ Scale among persons suffering from schizophrenia has revealed that an increase in the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption leads to an increase of indices of anger and accusations in deliberate situations. Conclusion. The obtained data make it possible to assume presence of the modifying effect of quantitative parameters of alcohol use on formation of a hostile position in persons suffering from schizophrenia.


Author(s):  
Maria J E Schouten ◽  
Carolien Christ ◽  
Jack J M Dekker ◽  
Heleen Riper ◽  
Anna E Goudriaan ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of digital interventions addressing depressive symptoms and alcohol use simultaneously among people with co-occurring depression and problematic alcohol use. Methods Seven databases were searched for trials evaluating digital interventions aimed at depression and alcohol use. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to pool effects on depressive symptoms and alcohol use up to 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Overall quality for every outcome was assessed with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Results The pooled effect of digital interventions compared to their comparators was in favour of digital interventions. Small but significant effects on depressive symptoms at 3-month follow-up were found (g = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06–0.62, P = 0.02, k = 6) and non-significant effects at 6-month follow-up (g = 0.29, 95% CI: −0.16 to 0.73, P = 0.15, k = 5). For alcohol use, the pooled effect of digital interventions was small and non-significant at 3-month follow-up (g = 0.14, 95% CI: −0.02 to 0.30, P = 0.07, k = 6) and significant at 6-month follow-up (g = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.07–0.20, P = 0.005, k = 5). Sensitivity analysis indicated the latter finding to be sensitive to statistical estimator choice. Quality of evidence was moderate, except for depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up for which it was low. Conclusion Based on the literature, digital interventions are effective in reducing depressive symptoms at 3-month follow-up and alcohol use at 6-month follow-up among people with comorbid depression and problematic alcohol use. More high-quality trials are needed to confirm the current findings.


Author(s):  
Elisa M. Trucco ◽  
Gabriel L. Schlomer ◽  
Brian M. Hicks

Approximately 48–66% of the variation in alcohol use disorders is heritable. This chapter provides an overview of the genetic influences that contribute to alcohol use disorder within a developmental perspective. Namely, risk for problematic alcohol use is framed as a function of age-related changes in the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors and an end state of developmental processes. This chapter discusses the role of development in the association between genes and the environment on risk for alcohol use disorder. Designs used to identify genetic factors relevant to problematic alcohol use are discussed. Studies examining developmental pathways to alcohol use disorder with a focus on endophenotypes and intermediate phenotypes are reviewed. Finally, areas for further investigation are offered.


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