Delay Discounting of Losses in Alcohol Use Disorders and Antisocial Psychopathology: Effects of a Working Memory Load

Abstract

Background Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are associated with increased discounting of delayed rewards and reduced executive working memory (eWM) capacity. This association is amplified when comorbid with antisocial psychopathology (AP). Furthermore, recent studies suggest that reduced WM capacity is associated with disinhibited decisions reflected by increased impulsive decision-making on the delay discounting of rewards task. While discounting of delayed rewards is well studied, the discounting of delayed losses (DDL) has received significantly less experimental attention. Methods The current study investigated: 1) the rate of DDL in individuals with AUD only (n=61), AUD with comorbid AP (n=79) and healthy controls (n=64); 2) the relationship between eWM capacity and discounting of delayed losses; and 3) the effect of a WM load on discounting of delayed losses. Discounting performance was assessed using a computerized discounting of delayed losses task. Results Results showed that the AUD-only and AUD-AP groups had higher rates of DDL and lower eWM capacity compared to the control groups. Lower individual eWM capacity was associated with increased discounting of delayed losses. However, WM load did not increase discounting rates overall. Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that greater discounting of delayed losses is associated with AUD and comorbid AP problems and lower individual eWM capacity.

Delay discounting of losses and rewards in alcohol use disorder: The effect of working memory load.

“…Our results and those of Gerst et al (2017) are not consistent with the results of Myerson and colleagues (2015), who reported that those with an AUD in their sample did not discount future losses more than controls. Differences in sample composition may account for the differences between Myerson et al (2015) and the samples in the current study and Gerst et al (2017). Myerson et al’s sample was comprised of inner city African Americans, while samples were comprised of mostly white, college students at a State university.…”

“…What is particularly interesting is that those with an AUD also discounted losses at significantly higher rates compared with controls as well. This is consistent with the results of a recent paper (Gerst et al, 2017) showing that those with an AUD discounted future losses at higher rates compared with controls, as well as studies showing the smokers discount future losses at higher rates than never-smokers (Baker et al, 2003; Odum et al, 2002). The higher discounting rates of both delayed rewards and losses suggests that AUDs broadly discount future events of incentive value more than healthy controls.…”

“…In the current study, a WM load generally increased discounting of delayed rewards, but did not have a significant effect on the discounting of losses. The lack of effect of a WM load on discounting losses is consistent with the results of Gerst and colleagues (2017), who found that a WM load did not increase discounting of losses in either those with an AUD or controls. Our results suggest that increased discounting of delayed rewards may reflect, in part, a difficulty shifting attention to consider long-term rewards.…”

“…The delay discounting reward task was modified from that used in Finn et al (2015) and Bobova et al (2009). The delay discounting loss task was identical to that used in Gerst et al (2017). Prior to doing the tasks, participants were informed that all of the monetary amounts for both the reward and the loss tasks were hypothetical.…”

Efecto Del Encuadre Sobre El Descuento Temporal en Jóvenes Que Consumen Alcohol: Análisis Del Dominio

“…Consumir alcohol es una conducta problemática que influye en el desarrollo de consecuencias negativas para la persona, tales como inestabilidad económica y emocional, violencia, problemas de salud, accidentes e incluso la muerte (World Health Organization, 2018). El problema del consumo y sus consecuencias pueden entenderse como conductas que se derivan de una serie de elecciones impulsivas (Gerst et al, 2017;Mitchell, 2019). Desde esta perspectiva, la evidencia sugiere que las personas que consumen alcohol tienden a mostrar mayores niveles de impulsividad que personas sin historial de consumo (Adams et al, 2017).…”