Sex Differences in the Response to Abstinence From Alcohol.
Indiana University
Summary
In laboratory animals, repeated cycles of abstinence from and return to alcohol drinking can lead to changes in alcohol intake. In a study of the effect of abstinence on drinking in humans, the investigators found evidence that abstinence affects drinking differently in women compared to men. In the present study, the investigators propose to study how men and women respond to abstinence, and whether this information can be used to improve intervention and prevention strategies.
Description
Women and men differ in how quickly they progress from social to problematic alcohol drinking. In laboratory animals, short-term abstinence increases alcohol consumption, with repeated deprivations leading to disordered drinking. In a preliminary study, the investigators found that men and women differed in how their motivation to drink alcohol changed after a short period of abstinence. The investigators hypothesize that this difference may affect their transition to alcohol use disorders. The objectives of this application are to characterize the human post abstinence response, and use ident…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 21–35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Moderate social drinkers * Able to understand/complete questionnaires and procedures in English * Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 32 kg/m2 * Have venous access sufficient to allow blood sampling Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant or breast-feeding women, or women who intend to become pregnant * Do not attest to using accepted forms of birth control for the infusion phase of the study * Current treatment for, or desire to be treated for, any substance use disorder or court ordered to not drink alcohol * History of significant adverse reaction to alcohol * Medical dis…
Interventions
- BehavioralAbstinence from alcohol
Participants will undergo a laboratory alcohol infusion session that terminates 2 weeks of monitored abstinence from alcohol
- BehavioralUsual drinking
Participants will undergo a laboratory alcohol infusion session during a period of usual drinking behavior
- DrugIntravenous Alcohol
During the laboratory alcohol infusion sessions, alcohol is infused through an indwelling catheter.
Location
- University HospitalIndianapolis, Indiana