Psychophysiological Indicators of Craving in Alcoholics: Effects of cue exposure

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Abstract
Summary: Autonomic arousal, as indicated by Skin Conductance, and heart rate parameters, was evaluated in 16 detoxified male alcoholics before and after intake of a standard priming dose of alcohol/soft drink. After priming, patients were given cue exposure, i.e. presentations of preferred beverage bottles containing original content or non‐alcohol fluid of identical visual appearance. This was followed by response prevention training. All patients participated during six identical sessions. Patients given alcohol before cue exposure showed higher levels of arousal, throughout all sessions. Immediately after alcohol intake, increases in skin conductance level and number of spontaneous skin conductance responses were observed for all sessions. This pattern was most pronounced in the first session. Skin conductance parameters showed a decrease towards baseline levels over repeated cue exposure sessions. A similar pattern was also evident for the subjective indicators of arousal.

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