Global sleep quality is associated with tonic craving, but not cue-induced craving.

OBJECTIVE

Sleep disturbance is widespread among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and is thought to reduce the capacity for self-regulation. The present study examines how sleep disturbance is associated with the regulation of tonic (i.e., "trait-like") and cue-induced (i.e., "provoked") craving, among individuals with AUD.

METHODS

Participants with an AUD (N = 58) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep quality, the Obsessive-Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) for tonic craving, and the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) for cue-induced craving during an alcohol cue-exposure paradigm. A series of hierarchical regressions examined the independent contribution of sleep quality to tonic and cue-induced alcohol craving.

RESULTS

PSQI global score was associated with tonic craving per the OCDS, over and above alcohol use and demographic measures. PSQI global score was not associated with cue-induced craving.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that sleep dysfunction plays a role in tonic alcohol craving and that the underlying mechanism may be the reduction of self-regulation. Treatments targeting sleep dysfunction in AUD may prove useful in reducing craving and overall alcohol use.