Deficits in Consummatory Reward Relate to Severity of Cocaine Use

Authors

Margaret C Wardle
Jennifer K Hoots
Krista Miloslavich
Cecilia Nunez
Constanza de Dios
Christopher Holden
Aneet Ahluwahlia
Charles E Green
Scott D Lane
Joy M Schmitz

Publication Date

8-1-2023

Journal

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Identifying modifiable neuropsychological factors associated with more severe CUD could improve CUD treatment. Impairments in processing of non-drug rewards may be one such factor. This study assessed the relationship between reward functioning and cocaine use severity using multi-modal measures of three distinct reward functions: consummatory reward (pleasure or "liking"); motivational reward ("wanting") and reward learning.

METHODS: Fifty-three adults with at least moderate CUD completed self-report and behavioral measures of consummatory reward, motivational reward and reward learning, and a composite cocaine use severity measure including quantity, frequency and life impacts of cocaine use. We conducted parallel Frequentist and Bayesian multiple regressions with measures of reward functioning as predictors of cocaine use severity.

RESULTS: Less self-reported ability to experience pleasure, a hypothesized measure of consummatory reward, significantly predicted greater severity after adjustment for covariates and multiple hypothesis testing, β = 0.39, t(38) = 2.86, p = 0.007. Bayesian analyses confirmed a highly likely association between severity and ability to experience pleasure, and provided moderate evidence for associations with willingness to exert effort and reward learning.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that less experience of subjective pleasure is related to greater cocaine use severity. This cross-sectional study cannot establish whether differences in consummatory reward are pre-existing, a result of CUD, or both. However, these results suggest interventions focused on increasing subjective pleasure, such as mindful "savoring", should be investigated for CUD.

Keywords

Adult, Humans, Cross-Sectional Studies, Bayes Theorem, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Motivation, Pleasure, Reward, Cocaine, Anhedonia

Comments

Supplementary Materials

PMID: 37301068