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Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on October 4, 2006
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agl076
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved
Received December 9, 2005
Revised August 17, 2006
Accepted August 17, 2006

Article

DIAZEPAM DOSE-DEPENDENTLY INCREASES OR DECREASES IMPLICIT PRIMING OF ALCOHOL ASSOCIATIONS IN PROBLEM DRINKERS

MARTIN ZACK 1 *, CONSTANTINE X. POULOS 1, and TRACY M. WOODFORD 1

1 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2S1

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
MARTIN ZACK, E-mail: martin_zack{at}camh.net


  Abstract

Aims: Words denoting negative affect (NEG) have been found to prime alcohol-related words (ALC) on semantic priming tasks, and this effect is tied to severity of addiction. Previous research suggested that high doses of benzodiazepines may dampen NEG-ALC priming. The present study tested this possibility and the role of motivation for alcohol in this process. Methods: A placebo-controlled, double blind, between-within, counterbalanced design was employed. Two groups of male problem drinkers (n = 6/group) received a high (15-mg) or low (5-mg) dose of diazepam versus placebo on two identical test sessions. A lexical decision task assessed priming. Results: Under placebo, significant NEG->ALC priming emerged in each group. High-dose diazepam selectively reversed this effect, while low-dose selectively enhanced it. Correlations between NEG->ALC priming and desire for alcohol provided further support that semantic priming of ALC concepts reflects a motivational process. The bi-directional effects found here parallel the effects of high- versus low-dose benzodiazepines on alcohol self-administration in animals. Conclusions: High-dose diazepam reduces prime-induced activation of ALC concepts in problem drinkers. Low-dose diazepam facilitates this process, and cross-priming of motivation for alcohol appears to explain this effect. Neurochemical modulation of the alcohol memory network may contribute to the motivational effects of benzodiazepines in problem drinkers.


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