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Altered social and non-social decision-making in recreational and dependent cocaine users

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2013

L. M. Hulka ,
C. Eisenegger ,
K. H. Preller ,
M. Vonmoos ,
D. Jenni ,
K. Bendrick ,
M. R. Baumgartner ,
E. Seifritz  and
B. B. Quednow
L. M. Hulka
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
C. Eisenegger
Affiliation:
Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
K. H. Preller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
M. Vonmoos
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
D. Jenni
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
K. Bendrick
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
M. R. Baumgartner
Affiliation:
Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
E. Seifritz
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
B. B. Quednow*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
*
*Address for correspondence: B. B. Quednow, Ph.D., Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. (Email: quednow@bli.uzh.ch)
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Abstract

Background

Maladaptive decision-making is assumed to be a core feature of cocaine addiction. Indeed, numerous studies have reported deficits in non-social decision-making tasks and reward-related impulsivity in dependent cocaine users. However, social decision-making has not been examined in cocaine users yet. Moreover, it is unknown if even recreational and non-dependent cocaine use is linked to decision-making deficits. Therefore, we investigated whether recreational and dependent cocaine users exhibit alterations in social and non-social decision-making.

Method

The performance of healthy controls (n = 68), recreational cocaine users (n = 68) and dependent cocaine users (n = 30) in classical decision-making paradigms (Iowa Gambling Task, Delay Discounting) and in social interaction paradigms (Distribution Game, Dictator Game) was assessed.

Results

Decisions in the social interaction tasks of both cocaine user groups were more self-serving compared with controls as cocaine users preferred higher monetary payoffs for themselves. In the Iowa Gambling Task, only dependent cocaine users were more likely to choose disadvantageous card decks, reflecting worse decision-making. They were also more likely to choose immediate smaller rewards over larger delayed rewards in the Delay Discounting task.

Conclusions

Our results imply that both recreational and dependent cocaine users are more concerned with their own monetary gain when interacting with another person. Furthermore, primarily dependent cocaine users are less foresighted and more impulsive regarding immediate reward. Overall, social interaction deficits are already present in recreational users, while non-social decision-making deficits occur predominantly in dependent cocaine users. Thus, social interaction training and cognitive remediation strategies may improve treatment success and quality of life in cocaine dependence.

Keywords

Delay of gratificationdependenceintertemporal discountingneuroeconomicsprefrontal cortex
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 5 , April 2014 , pp. 1015 - 1028
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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