The relationship between associated stimuli and drug use: the role of attentional bias

Abstract

Stimuli in the environment can become associated with drug use and act as cues to maintain drug-taking. A number of psychological theories have proposed mechanisms through which cues may influence behaviour. These are discussed in the literature review and the conclusion is drawn that research is needed that tests the specific predictions made by the currently influential models. The investigation of cognitive biases that influence response to cues is highlighted as one area that could be investigated by psychologists in the field.

An attentional bias towards drug-related stimuli has been shown in dependent subjects across substances. The empirical paper investigates the nature of this bias. The results showed a significant attentional bias for drug related information in opiate dependent subjects when the stimuli were presented for 200ms in a dot probe task. There was no evidence of an attentional bias when the stimuli were presented for 500 or 1500ms. It is suggested that 200ms reflects an automatic level of information processing which will guide behaviour without the engagement of strategic cognitive processes. This supports the incentive-sensitisation mechanism suggested by Robinson & Berridge (1993). The clinical implications of this are discussed in terms of cognitive behavioural interventions.

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