Sex Differences in Alcohol-Cue-Induced Craving and Heart-Rate
Variability in Hazardous Drinkers
Abstract
The prevalence of hazardous drinking among females has increased more in
the past decades as compared to among males. While it is well-known that
females suffer more from the negative effects of alcohol use than males,
the mechanisms that explain sex differences in hazardous drinking remain
poorly understood. The current study aimed to investigate sex
differences in the relationship between cue-induced (relief and reward)
craving and cue-induced heart rate variability in a sample of hazardous
drinkers. One hundred fourteen hazardous drinkers (61 females) underwent
an alcohol cue-exposure paradigm consisting of exposure to
alcohol-related pictures, personalized script imagery, and alcohol
paraphernalia. Relief- and reward cravings were measured before and
after exposure using the Desire for Alcohol Questionnaire. Heart Rate
Variability was measured continuously during the exposure using an
electrocardiograph. While there was a significant increase in both
reward and relief craving following the alcohol exposure paradigm, these
effects were not moderated by sex. Importantly, however, exposure to
alcohol cues was associated with a stronger reduction in Heart Rate
Variability among males compared to female hazardous drinkers. Lastly,
exposure-related reduction in Heart Rate Variability was significantly
stronger in individuals that reported more exposure-induced relief
craving, but these effects were not moderated by sex. In summary, our
findings suggest that while there were no sex differences in
exposure-induced Heart Rate Variability, there was in exposure-induced
craving. These findings may pave the way for developing sex-specific
interventions specifically targeting Heart Rate Variability, including
Heart Rate Variability biofeedback.