Psychopathic Traits, Affect, and Cocaine Use-Related Outcomes

Abstract

Substance abuse and associated public health and economic consequences represent a pervasive and costly problem. Among inner-city substance users, crack/cocaine is the most common drug of choice and is associated with health compromising behaviors. Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are more prevalent, severe, and difficult to treat among individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Psychopathy is a construct which is related to but distinct from ASPD, and the relation between primary psychopathic traits and substance use is not well understood. The present laboratory experimental study of cocaine use-related outcomes in the context of mood inductions among cocaine users found that primary psychopathic traits were negatively associated with attentional bias for cocaine-related cues but not associated with self-reported craving. Assignment to the negative affect manipulation was related to greater attentional bias but not to craving. The interaction between mood condition and primary psychopathic traits was not a significant predictor of either outcome.