Interplay Between Alcohol Cues and Mood States During Early Abstinence: A Daily Diary Study

The present study examined the association of mood states, alcohol cue exposure, and their synergistic effect on alcohol consumption and subjective craving during early abstinence. A community sample of 50 (24 females, average age 41.68 years old) individuals with current alcohol use disorder and an intrinsic motivation to reduce/quit alcohol use completed a quit attempt and daily diary assessments (DDAs). Electronic DDAs asked about previous-day drinking, alcohol craving, mood states, and exposure to alcohol cues. Analyses using mixed models tested the main effects and synergistic effects of mood states and alcohol cue exposure on alcohol consumption and subjective craving during the quit attempt. Daily negative mood was associated with same-day alcohol craving (b = 0.18, p = .01), in that higher ratings of negative mood were associated with greater alcohol craving. Daily negative mood was associated with same-day number of drinks consumed (b = 0.35, p < .0001), such that higher negative mood was associated with higher alcohol consumption. Alcohol cue exposure predicted next-day alcohol craving (b = 0.26, p = .02), such that higher cue exposure predicted greater next-day craving for alcohol. Findings underscore the role of negative mood states and exposure to alcohol cues on alcohol consumption and craving during a quit attempt. These findings suggest that negative mood states and alcohol-related cues may be useful targets for just-in-time interventions.