TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in craving following acute aerobic exercise in adults with alcohol use disorder
AU - Hallgren, Mats
AU - Herring, Matthew P.
AU - Vancampfort, Davy
AU - Hoang, Minh Tuan
AU - Andersson, Victoria
AU - Andreasson, Sven
AU - Abrantes, Ana M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Aims: Exercise is increasingly being studied as treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). We examined the effects of an acute bout of exercise on alcohol craving, heterogeneity of response, and factors associated with reductions in craving. Methods: Within the context of a randomized controlled trial, we conducted an exploratory, single-arm study. In total, 117 adults with AUD (52.7 years; SD = 12.3; 68.4% female) and indications of alcohol craving (Desire for Alcohol Questionnaire, DAQ-short version total score >8) were included. The intervention was a 12-min sub-maximal fitness test performed on a cycle ergometer. We examined changes in participant's self-rated desire for alcohol immediately before and after exercise. Personal, clinical, and exercise-related factors associated with reductions (≥0.5 SD) in craving were identified using hierarchical logistic regression. Results: In the total sample craving reduced from pre-to post-exercise (p < 0.001, g = 0.60 [0.40–0.79]). Three groups were observed: those whose craving decreased (70.1%; p < 0.001, g = 1.12 [0.85–1.40]), increased (16.2%; p < 0.001, g = 1.08 [0.51–1.64]), or did not change (13.7%). Forty percent experienced clinically meaningful reductions in craving (≥0.5 SD). In fully adjusted models, two factors were associated with these reductions: higher pre-exercise cravings (OR = 1.15 [1.07–1.23], p < 0.001) and lower cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 0.88 [0.79–1.00], p = 0.043). Conclusions: In most adults with AUD, short bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise helps reduce cravings for alcohol. Those with higher cravings and lower cardiorespiratory fitness are most likely to benefit.
AB - Aims: Exercise is increasingly being studied as treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). We examined the effects of an acute bout of exercise on alcohol craving, heterogeneity of response, and factors associated with reductions in craving. Methods: Within the context of a randomized controlled trial, we conducted an exploratory, single-arm study. In total, 117 adults with AUD (52.7 years; SD = 12.3; 68.4% female) and indications of alcohol craving (Desire for Alcohol Questionnaire, DAQ-short version total score >8) were included. The intervention was a 12-min sub-maximal fitness test performed on a cycle ergometer. We examined changes in participant's self-rated desire for alcohol immediately before and after exercise. Personal, clinical, and exercise-related factors associated with reductions (≥0.5 SD) in craving were identified using hierarchical logistic regression. Results: In the total sample craving reduced from pre-to post-exercise (p < 0.001, g = 0.60 [0.40–0.79]). Three groups were observed: those whose craving decreased (70.1%; p < 0.001, g = 1.12 [0.85–1.40]), increased (16.2%; p < 0.001, g = 1.08 [0.51–1.64]), or did not change (13.7%). Forty percent experienced clinically meaningful reductions in craving (≥0.5 SD). In fully adjusted models, two factors were associated with these reductions: higher pre-exercise cravings (OR = 1.15 [1.07–1.23], p < 0.001) and lower cardiorespiratory fitness (OR = 0.88 [0.79–1.00], p = 0.043). Conclusions: In most adults with AUD, short bouts of moderately intense aerobic exercise helps reduce cravings for alcohol. Those with higher cravings and lower cardiorespiratory fitness are most likely to benefit.
KW - Alcohol consumption
KW - Anxiety
KW - Craving
KW - Exercise
KW - Mood
KW - Physical activity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112312362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.08.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.08.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 34391078
AN - SCOPUS:85112312362
SN - 0022-3956
VL - 142
SP - 243
EP - 249
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
ER -