A Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) is requested from NIAAA to facilitate the candidate's professional development as a productive, independent clinical scientist. Specifically, the candidate will use the five-year award to receive training relevant to examining processes associated with successful changes in drinking among those diagnosed with alcohol use disorders (AUDs), with a particular focus on applying a novel theoretical model for studying craving. Through the application of the Ambivalence Model of Craving, which views craving as a complex experience requiring consideration of contextual and other factors, including both desires to use (approach) and desires to not use (avoidance), the candidate will re-examine the craving-drinking relationship among those diagnosed with AUDs prior to, during, and after receiving a brief alcohol intervention. Greater understanding of craving processes during the course of recovery has the potential to inform current treatment strategies, and to highlight an important process associated with pretreatment changes in drinking, treatment initiation, and positive treatment outcomes. A long term career goal of the candidate is to investigate the processes by which individuals successfully change problematic drinking behaviors, and applying this knowledge to the development, refinement and implementation of treatment programs. The proposed five-year training plan and research study are a fundamental step in the candidate's professional development, and will focus on extensive training and mentoring in: 1) clinical trial methodology, 2) daily process methodology, 3) advanced statistical techniques for modeling complex daily data (i.e., multilevel modeling), and 4) the use of automated and web-based technologies in alcohol-related research. Further, the award will provide ongoing guidance for the professional development of the candidate as a clinical scientist, including further training in the responsible conduct of research. As part of this career development award, the candidate proposes a study combining both clinical trial and daily process methodology to examine the dynamic longitudinal relationships between daily approach and avoidance inclinations (i.e., craving) and drinking behaviors in those diagnosed with AUDs prior to, during, and after receiving a brief alcohol intervention. It is hypothesized that daily avoidance inclinations will significantly moderate the effect of daily approach inclinations on drinking behaviors, and that significant increases in avoidance inclinations will be observed prior to treatment entry, followed by significant decreases in approach inclinations during treatment. The research environment at the Research Institute on Addictions, combined with the carefully selected expert mentoring team, will provide the candidate with excellent support and guidance during the award period. The training and research experiences outlined in the proposed career development award will provide the necessary skills for the candidate to pursue a program of independent research addressing the complexities in the craving-drinking relationship among those diagnosed with AUDs.

Public Health Relevance

Craving is hypothesized to play an important role in the development, maintenance, and reinstatement of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), yet the literature has failed to yield strong associations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a nove theoretical model (i.e., Ambivalence Model of Craving) that emphasizes the importance of both the desire or urge to consume alcohol (i.e., approach inclinations) and the desire or urge to avoid consuming alcohol (i.e., avoidance inclinations). This model captures the ambivalence experienced by many alcoholics and may improve the ability to predict future drinking behaviors and treatment outcomes among those diagnosed with AUDs. The long-term goal of this study is to identify important processes (i.e., changes in craving) associated with changes in drinking behaviors, and how such information can be applied to enhance standard AUD treatment protocols.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23AA021768-06
Application #
9288100
Study Section
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Initial Review Group (AA)
Program Officer
Bechtholt, Anita J
Project Start
2013-07-19
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2017-07-01
Budget End
2019-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Florida
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
069687242
City
Tampa
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33612
Noyes, Emily T; Schlauch, Robert C (2018) Examination of approach and avoidance inclinations on the reinforcing value of alcohol. Addict Behav 79:61-67
Verzijl, Christina L; Ahlich, Erica; Schlauch, Robert C et al. (2018) The role of craving in emotional and uncontrolled eating. Appetite 123:146-151
Noyes, Emily T; Levine, Jacob A; Schlauch, Robert C et al. (2018) Impact of Pretreatment Change on Mechanism of Behavior Change Research: An Applied Example Using Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 79:223-228
Molnar, Danielle S; Rancourt, Diana; Schlauch, Robert et al. (2017) Tobacco Exposure and Conditional Weight-for-Length Gain by 2 Years of Age. J Pediatr Psychol 42:679-688
Crane, Cory A; Licata, MacKenzie L; Schlauch, Robert C et al. (2017) The proximal effects of acute alcohol use on female aggression: A meta-analytic review of the experimental literature. Psychol Addict Behav 31:21-26
Crane, Cory A; Schlauch, Robert C; Devine, Susan et al. (2016) Comorbid substance use diagnoses and partner violence among offenders receiving pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence. J Addict Dis 35:205-11
Crane, Cory A; Testa, Maria; Schlauch, Robert C et al. (2016) The couple that smokes together: Dyadic marijuana use and relationship functioning during conflict. Psychol Addict Behav 30:686-93
Connors, Gerard J; Maisto, Stephen A; Schlauch, Robert C et al. (2016) Therapeutic alliances predict session by session drinking behavior in the treatment of alcohol use disorders. J Consult Clin Psychol 84:972-982
Crane, Cory A; Godleski, Stephanie A; Przybyla, Sarahmona M et al. (2016) The Proximal Effects of Acute Alcohol Consumption on Male-to-Female Aggression: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Experimental Literature. Trauma Violence Abuse 17:520-531
Schlauch, Robert C; Christensen, Rita L; Derrick, Jaye L et al. (2015) Individual Differences in Approach and Avoidance Inclinations Moderate the Effect of Self-Control Depletion on Ad-Lib Drinking. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 39:2480-8

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