Underlying mechanisms in the relationship between stress and alcohol consumption in regular and risky drinkers.

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Sebastian Trautmann
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2017 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 383739866

BackgroundStressful events are a major risk factor for the development of harmful alcohol use and alcohol dependence, which are related to high individual and societal burden. The specific mechanisms undelying the association between stress and alcohol use are still not fully understood. Study aimsBased on recent theoretical models and empirical findings, the proposed experimental randomized controlled study aims at investigating the mediators and modertors of this association to identify targets for tailored preventive interventions. Since the literature suggests possible differences in the examined mechanisms depending on the current level of alcohol consuption, the proposed study will include both regular and risky drinkers.Short descriptionThe relationship between stress and alcohol consumption will be investigated within a randomized controlled experimental design to be able to identify causal mechanisms. For this purpose, 200 regular and 200 risky drinkers are randomized to an established stress induction paradigm (Trier Social Stress Test) and a control condition. Subsequently, various putative biological and psychological mediators will be assessed. In addition to self-reported distress, salivary cortisol concentrations and alpha amylase activity will be measured. Further, impulsivity (via delay discounting task), attentional bias (via dot probe task) and inhibitory control (via go-nogo task) will be assessed using behavioral tasks. In addition to these putative mediators, basal cortisol secretion (hair cortisol concentration) as well as self-reported childhood maltreatment, trait impulsivity and drinking motives as putative moderators will be assessed. Momentary alcohol consumption will be assessed as dependent variable using an ad-libitum taste test, a standardized covert measure of alcohol consumption in the laboratory.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigators: Dr. Michael Höfler; Dr. Anja Kräplin; Professor Dr. Markus Mühlhan
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Clemens Kirschbaum; Dr. Susann Steudte-Schmiedgen