Reactivity to alcohol-relevant beverage and imaginal cues in alcoholics

This study was designed to explore three primary facets of reactivity to alcohol-relevant stimuli among alcoholics: (a) comparison of exposure to an alcohol-containing beverage vs. an appropriate, standardized control beverage; (b) efficacy of imaginally presented cues to elicit reactivity, alone and in combination with beverage cues; and (c) examination of the recovery process. Forty-eight male veterans attending an inpatient alcohol treatment program served as participants and were randomly assigned to one of four groups in a 2 (Alcohol vs. Lemonade Beverage) × 2 (High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Imagery) design. Heart rate reactivity to Beverage cues was consistent with previous research. An interaction of Beverage and Imagery manipulations during recovery revealed both experimental manipulations influenced heart rate, although the Alcohol/High-Risk Imagery exposure group did not demonstrate enhanced effects. Both manipulations also had an impact on ratings of desire to consume alcohol. These findings provide further support for the reliability of cue reactivity effects, and suggest the utility of imaginal exposure procedures as a component of a comprehensive cue reactivity assessment.