Inhibitory Control Training May Promote a More Aware Drinking Behavior in Young Female Individuals with Binge Drinking Pattern, but Cannot Improve Inhibitory Control

Poster

Background: In heavy drinking samples, brief computerized inhibitory control trainings have been shown to reduce alcohol consumption, albeit they might not improve inhibitory control. To the best of our knowledge, none of these studies have focused on binge drinking (BD), so far. However, in this risky drinking pattern, drinking-related loss of control takes on a special role and thus, improvements in self-control and more specifically inhibitory control may be more likely. Based on the suggestions of previous research, we aimed for an optimized training character. Thus, the present study evaluated, if an individualized, adaptive inhibitory control training can increase inhibitory control as well as alcohol-related self-control and reduce BD behavior. Methods: Sixty-one individuals with BD pattern (30 women) were randomly and blindly allocated to either an experimental group with three training sessions, or a control group without training. Immediately before and after the training, all participants performed a Go/No-Go task (which was framed as training in the control group) and answered questions on drinking-related self-control. BD behavior was assessed in the following week. Results: The training slightly reduced the speed of drinking in females and increased the intention to control drinking, also mainly in females. However, participants’ deficits in inhibitory control regarding alcohol stimuli did not improve as a result of the training. Conclusions: Intensively dealing with their drinking-related self-control during the training promoted a more aware drinking behavior in female, but not male individuals with BD pattern.
Thus, when addressing BD behavior, sex differences seem to be relevant. However, in order to improve inhibitory control in individuals with BD pattern, other approaches than current computerized trainings should be investigated. The small sample size, the lack of an active control group and the short follow-up interval can be criticized.