A recent study from the University of Chicago Medicine reveals that those with alcohol use disorder and depression experience heightened pleasure from alcohol, challenging traditional beliefs about self-medication and opening new avenues for treatment.
In a new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Chicago Medicine have unveiled surprising insights into the effects of alcohol on individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression.
The study reveals that those suffering from both conditions experience high levels of pleasure and stimulation from drinking, upending the conventional wisdom that these individuals predominantly drink to alleviate negative feelings.
Debunking the Self-Medication Myth
“We have this folklore that people drink excessively when they’re feeling depressed and that it’s really about self-medicating,” lead author Andrea King, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at UChicago, said in a news release.
Using a novel approach that involved real-time monitoring through smartphone-based reporting, the researchers scrutinized the emotional states of participants during and after drinking episodes.
The study encompassed 232 individuals aged 21 to 35, with half of the participants meeting the criteria for AUD, and equally divided between those with and without recent major depressive disorders. Through their phones, the participants provided feedback every 30 minutes over a three-hour period during both drinking and non-drinking episodes.
The data revealed that individuals with both AUD and depression reported sustained positive and rewarding effects from alcohol, challenging the idea that they primarily drink to mitigate negative emotions. Instead, these individuals, much like their non-depressed counterparts, experienced acute pleasure and heightened stimulation when intoxicated.
Rethinking Treatment Approaches
Traditionally, treatments for AUD and depression have focused heavily on managing stress and alleviating depressive symptoms.
However, the new findings suggest a paradigm shift is needed.
“Currently, the focus of treatment is often on resolving stress and symptoms of depression, but that is only addressing one side of the coin if we don’t also address the heightened stimulation, liking and wanting more alcohol that occur in both depressed and non-depressed people with AUD,” King added.
The study’s outcomes challenge the prevailing theory that the brain’s reward system in heavy drinkers transitions from experiencing pleasure to merely avoiding withdrawal and stress over time.
Instead, the research indicates that the pleasure component remains robust, acting as an “accelerator pedal fueling more dependency.”
Bridging Lab Research With Real-Life Conditions
“For nearly a decade, our group has been improving methods to use mobile technologies to measure real time clinically meaningful outcomes in people with AUD and those at risk for alcohol-related problems,” added co-author Daniel Fridberg, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at UChicago.
Fridberg emphasized that these innovative methods have allowed researchers to better bridge the understanding between laboratory findings and real-world experiences, potentially leading to improved treatment interventions.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, King is set to explore whether older adults who have lived with AUD for decades also experience similar heightened pleasurable effects from alcohol, compared to their non-AUD peers.
This next phase of research could further illuminate long-term patterns of alcohol response and dependency, potentially questioning whether current theories about tolerance and blunting of pleasure hold true across different age groups.
The University of Chicago study not only redefines our understanding of alcohol’s role in the lives of those with AUD and depression but also signals the need for more nuanced and comprehensive treatment strategies that address both the positive and negative effects experienced by these individuals.