Attentional bias, inhibitory control and acute stress in current and former opiate addicts

Drug dependence is associated with both attentional biases to drug-related cues and inhibitory control deficits. Although acute stress is known to increase craving, it is not known whether this effect is mediated via changes in attentional bias and inhibitory control.

To examine the effect of a mild stressor on inhibitory control, attentional bias and craving in current opiate users (methadone maintained), ex-users (currently abstinent) and non-users (healthy controls).

Forty-eight participants (16 in each group) were exposed to both stress and non-stress conditions, after which inhibitory control and attentional bias was assessed using a Go-No-go and dot probe task respectively. Subjective ratings of stress levels and drug craving were repeatedly monitored.

Current opiate users had significantly higher cravings ratings than both other groups at all times, and their craving tended to increase following the stress task. Current users had a greater attentional bias towards drug-related stimuli than the ex-users. Interestingly, ex-users showed a bias away from drug-related stimuli in the stress condition and this correlated positively with their length of abstinence. On the Go/No-go task, all groups had fewer false alarms in the stress condition.

These results indicate that successful treatment is associated with a bias away from drugs, and that this bias may be protective against the effects of stress.