Longitudinal pathways linking family risk, neural risk processing, delay discounting, and adolescent substance use

Abstract

Background: Current theories in neuroscience emphasize the crucial role of individual differences in the brain contributing to the development of risk taking during adolescence. Yet, little is known about developmental pathways through which family risk factors are related to the neural processing of risk during decision making, ultimately contributing to health risk behaviors. Using a longitudinal design, we tested whether neural risk processing, as affected by family multi-risk index, predicted delay discounting and substance use. Method: One hundred and fiftyseven adolescents (aged 13-14 years at Time 1, 52% male) were assessed annually three times. Family multi-risk index was measured by socioeconomic adversity, household chaos, and family risk-taking behaviors. Delay discounting was assessed by a computerized task, substance use by questionnaire data, and risk-related neural processing by blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses in the amygdala during a lottery choice task. Results: Family multi-risk index at Time 1 was related to adolescent substance use at Time 3 (after controlling for baseline substance use) indirectly through heightened amygdala sensitivity to risks and greater delay discounting. Conclusions: Our results elucidate the crucial role of neural risk processing in the processes linking family multirisk index and the development of substance use. Furthermore, risk-related amygdala activation and delay discounting are important targets in the prevention and treatment of substance use among adolescents growing up in high-risk family environments.

On the discounting of cannabis and money: Sensitivity to magnitude vs. delay

“…Unlike other substances of abuse, cross-sectional differences in delay discounting rates between those that do versus do not use cannabis have not been consistently demonstrated (Gonzalez et al, 2012) -slowing the development of a literature on relations between delay discounting and cannabis use disorder (CUD). Recent studies, however, suggest that higher rates of delay discounting are associated with more frequent cannabis use (Kim-Spoon et al, 2019;Oshri et al, 2018;Vanderbroek et al, 2016) and delay discounting for cannabisbut not money -is a significant predictor of cannabis use disorder symptoms (Strickland et al, 2017). Moreover, a pair of recent studies (Patel et al, in press;Strickland et al, 2019) suggest that individuals discount delayed cannabis at higher rates than money -a relation consistent with findings from users of heroin (Madden et al, 1997), alcohol (Petry, 2001), and cocaine (Bickel et al, 2011b).…”

Greater delay discounting and cannabis coping motives are associated with more frequent cannabis use in a large sample of adult cannabis users

“…The rise in cannabis use is concerning because it is linked to biopsychosocial impairments characteristic of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD; Budney, 2006;Hasin et al, 2013;Volkow et al, 2014). Like other substances, cannabis use is thought to be driven by imbalances between a deliberative neural system that mediates cognitive control and future valuation, and a reactive system that facilitates reward and emotional processes (Kim-Spoon et al, 2019;Lopez-Vergara et al, 2019). This approach posits that maladaptive decisions either occur through failures of selfregulation, the exertion of control (top-down) over reflexive processes to achieve long-term goals (Bickel et al, 2012), or through impaired emotion regulation, the adaptive control of one's emotional processes (bottom-up; Bickel et al, 2018).…”

Effects of Fathers on Adolescent Daughters’ Frequency of Substance Use and Risky Sexual Behavior

“…Participants’ ratings were made on the following scale: 0 = Never ; 1 = Tried once ; 2 = Occasionally ; 3 = 1 – 2 times a week ; 4 = 3 – 5 times a week ; 5 = Daily . A composite score was computed by averaging the three items (α = .82; M = 1.73, SD = 1.45; min = 0, max = 5; e.g., Kim‐Spoon et al, 2019). Higher scores reflect more frequent TAC use during adolescence.…”