Dennis McChargue - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dennis McChargue

Eating behaviors, 2009

Serotonergic involvement has been implicated in preferential consumption of treat foods. We teste... more Serotonergic involvement has been implicated in preferential consumption of treat foods. We tested the effect of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on food consumption by overweight and lean adults with and without a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). ATD and taste-matched placebo challenges were administered double-blind in counter-balanced order. Participants were classified as lean (n = 36) or overweight (n=19) on the basis of body mass index (BMI). Total calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and sweet food consumption were assessed via a test meal 8-hours following ATD. Four food items of comparable palatability were offered as a part of the test: two sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one protein-rich) and two non-sweet (one carbohydrate-rich, and one proteinrich). As compared to the placebo challenge, ATD significantly increased sweet calorie intake among overweight participants and increased their propensity to consume sweet food first before any other type of food. Lean participants' sweet calorie intake and food preference were unaffected by ATD. Findings suggest serotonergic involvement in the sweet food consumption by overweight individuals.

Biological psychiatry, 2007

Background: Serotonergic dysregulation is posited to contribute to comorbidity between nicotine d... more Background: Serotonergic dysregulation is posited to contribute to comorbidity between nicotine dependence and depression. We tested whether acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) triggers depressive symptoms in euthymic, unmedicated smokers and nonsmokers with and without history of major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Acute tryptophan depletion and taste-matched placebo challenges were administered double-blind in counter-balanced order. Participants were four groups of volunteers hypothesized to be of increasing affective vulnerability as follows: nonsmokers lacking recurrent personal and familial history of MDD (n ϭ 20), smokers lacking recurrent personal and familial history of MDD (n ϭ 21), nonsmokers with history of recurrent personal and familial MDD (n ϭ 16), and smokers with recurrent personal and familial history of MDD (n ϭ 16). Depression, dysphoric mood, and plasma amino acids were measured at baseline and around the time of peak depletion. Results: Depressive symptom response to ATD was heightened significantly by history of MDD (p Ͻ .001) and marginally by smoking (p ϭ .09). Smoking seemed to magnify the ATD response of those with a history of MDD (effect size ϭ .63) but had no effect on those without MDD history (effect size ϭ .06). Conclusions: Depressive symptom response to serotonergic challenge is exaggerated in unmedicated, euthymic adults with recurrent personal and familial vulnerability to MDD, perhaps especially if they also smoke.

Journal of College Student Development, 2012

Journal of Addictive Diseases, 2014

The present study tested the influence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses on the relationshi... more The present study tested the influence of co-occurring mental health diagnoses on the relationship between length of stay and treatment outcome among adolescents residing in an inpatient substance abuse treatment facility. Data were collected via record review. Follow-up information was obtained at 7 days and 3 months post-discharge. Treatment outcome was defined as abstinence and engagement in recovery activities. Hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that comorbidities differentially moderated the relationship between length of stay and treatment outcome. Results suggest that these adolescents attempt to engage in recovery activities independent of abstinence and may need supplemental aftercare assistance to maintain their efforts.

American Journal of Health Behavior, 2009

To evaluate whether cue-evoked affective response would moderate the relationship between depress... more To evaluate whether cue-evoked affective response would moderate the relationship between depression-proneness and smoking years. Depression-proneness profiles were derived using clinician diagnosed personal and family histories of major depression, recurrent depression, trait-anhedonia, and ruminative coping styles (n=70). Affective distress was produced by idiographic, guided negative mood imageries in the presence of an in vivo cigarette exposure. Contrary to expectations, results showed that individuals less vulnerable to depression reported longer smoking histories. Stress-induced decreases in positive affect bolstered the association between depression vulnerability and smoking years. Depression-proneness assumptions are challenged and implications to affective influences on smoking behavior are discussed.

Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 2015

The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s factor structure v... more The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s factor structure varies depending on population and culture. Because of this inconsistency, this article examined the factor structure of the test and conducted a factorial invariance test between a U.S. and a Philippines college sample. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a three-factor solution outperforms the one- and two-factor solution in both samples. Factorial invariance analyses further supports the confirmatory findings by showing that factor loadings were generally invariant across groups; however, item intercepts show non-invariance. Country differences between factors show that Filipino consumption factor mean scores were significantly lower than their U.S. counterparts.

Psychology of Violence, 2014

Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 2015

Methamphetamine use remains a prevalent problem in the United States and is linked to numerous de... more Methamphetamine use remains a prevalent problem in the United States and is linked to numerous deleterious outcomes, including aggressive behavior, criminal activity, and incarceration. Given these associations, a greater understanding of factors that contribute to aggression among users of methamphetamine is needed, particularly within criminal justice settings, where users of this drug are overrepresented. The present study examined the relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and emotion dysregulation and in-prison physical aggression among incarcerated males who identified as methamphetamine users (N = 60). Participants&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; average age was 34.4 years (SD = 7.9), and they were predominantly European American (n = 48, 80%), had spent an average of 6.53 years incarcerated (SD = 4.64), and perpetrated about 1.54 acts of aggression (SD = 6.74) during the past three months. Bivariate correlations found that greater PTSD symptoms (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001), greater impulse control difficulties (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001), and limited access to emotion regulation strategies (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .05) were associated with aggression perpetrated in prison. However, results from multiple regression analyses indicated that only PTSD symptoms (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001) and nonacceptance of emotional responses (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .03) were predictive of aggression. Regression analyses also suggested that impulse control difficulties (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001), limited access to emotion regulation strategies (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .04), and non-acceptance of emotional responses (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .001) interacted with PTSD symptoms to predict increased aggressive behavior. The first interaction ran counter to study hypotheses; at greater levels of PTSD symptoms, those with greater acceptance of emotional responses reported greater aggression perpetration than those with lesser acceptance of emotional responses. The other two interactions were in line with hypotheses, showing that at greater levels of PTSD symptoms, those with greater impulse control difficulties (or lesser access to emotion regulation strategies) reported more aggressive behaviors. Consistent with theories of aggression, study findings suggest that PTSD symptoms bolster the risk of aggression via various forms emotion dysregulation. Results shed light on potential mechanisms that promote in-prison aggression and violent recidivism among this population.

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 2012

Binge drinking remains prevalent on college campuses (particularly among males), and a behavioral... more Binge drinking remains prevalent on college campuses (particularly among males), and a behavioral economic conceptualization of alcohol use provides novel insight into this problem. Further understanding also comes from identifying personality and genetic vulnerabilities associated with problem drinking among male college students. The present study hypothesized that DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A (rs1800497) genotype would moderate the relationship between alexithymia and an alcohol purchase task (APT) among male college binge drinkers. Specifically, among individuals with at least 1 A1 allele (A1+), greater alexithymia would be related to higher breakpoint (the point at which consumption is 0), O(max) (maximum expenditure on consumption), P(max) (price at which maximum expenditure occurs), intensity (consumption at the lowest price), and lesser elasticity (sensitivity to increasing price). Secondary analyses aimed to replicate APT associations with problematic drinking (AUDIT) and alcohol-related problems (RAPI). Participants were 120 male European-American college student binge drinkers ( M=10.33, SD=4.41). Five Bonferroni-corrected moderation models were tested using APT indices as the criteria, alexithymia as the predictor, and DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A1 allele presence as the moderator. Results indicated that, in A1+ individuals, greater alexithymia predicted lesser elasticity. Findings were not significant in A1- individuals. APT intensity was positively correlated with AUDIT total; however, no other significant relationships were found. This suggests that possession of the A1 allele interacts with hypoemotionality to predict a novel index of problem drinking. Results support the notion that college campuses would benefit from behavioral economic approaches to reduce binge drinking.

The Health Psychology Handbook: Practical Issues for the Behavioral Medicine Specialist, 2003

... Perspective LEE M. COHEN, DENNIS E. MCCHARGUE, MONICA CORTEZ-GARLAND, ERIC H. PRENSKY, AND SA... more ... Perspective LEE M. COHEN, DENNIS E. MCCHARGUE, MONICA CORTEZ-GARLAND, ERIC H. PRENSKY, AND SADIE EMERY Chronic use ... For instance, some evidence actually indicates that nicotine creates higher levels of anxiety and stress (Parrott, 1999; Piasecki &amp; Baker ...

Psychopharmacology, 2012

Rationale Positive alcohol outcome expectancies and behavioral economic indices of alcohol consum... more Rationale Positive alcohol outcome expectancies and behavioral economic indices of alcohol consumption are related to binge drinking among college students and may reflect explicit and implicit motivations that are differentially associated with this behavior. Objectives The present study hypothesized that implicit (alcohol purchase task) and explicit (positive expectancy for alcohol's effects) motivations for drinking would not be correlated. It was also hypothesized that greater implicit and explicit motivations would predict alcohol-related risk. Methods Participants were 297 college student binge drinkers (54% female; 88% European-American; Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test: M 09.53, SD 05.04). Three indices from the alcohol purchase task (APT) were modeled as a latent implicit alcohol-related motivations variable. Explicit alcohol-related motivations were measured using a global positive expectancy subscale from the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Questionnaire. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test total, Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index total, and age of drinking onset were modeled as a latent alcohol-related risk variable. Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations amongst implicit motivations, explicit motivations, and alcohol-related risk. Results Implicit and explicit motivations were not correlated. Partially consistent with the second hypothesis, greater implicit motivations were associated with greater alcoholrelated risk. Relations between explicit motivations and alcohol-related risk were marginally significant. Conclusions Implicit and explicit drinking motivations are differentially associated with problem drinking behaviors. Future research should examine the underlying neurobiological mechanisms associated with these factors.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2008

Impulsivity is associated with cigarette smoking, but the nature of this relationship and the mec... more Impulsivity is associated with cigarette smoking, but the nature of this relationship and the mechanisms that maintain it are relatively unknown. The relationship has often been thought to reflect appetitive processes, but research suggests that an affective pathway exists as well. The present study tested the effect of impulsivity on affective responses to an environmental smoking cue. Adult smokers (N = 62) were exposed to a neutral cue and a smoking cue in separate experimental sessions in a repeated-measures design. Mixed-effects regression analyses showed that larger postexposure increases in negative affect were associated with high scores on 2 facets of impulsivity: urgency, t (179) = 6.16, p < .001, and sensation seeking, t(179) = 4.75, p < .001. Heightened impulsivity was associated with lower levels of positive affect generally but not with positive affective responses to cue exposure. Findings provide support for the existence of a negative affective pathway linking impulsivity and cigarette smoking, and they suggest that this pathway may be specific to the urgency and sensation-seeking components of impulsivity.

Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2010

Mental Health and Substance Use, 2009

BACKGROUND: Research has reported a high rate of substance dependence in traumatized individuals ... more BACKGROUND: Research has reported a high rate of substance dependence in traumatized individuals who do not develop PTSD (TWP). While past studies have failed to consistently demonstrate that TWP individuals experience PTSD symptoms, findings have indicated that TWP and a history of substance dependence aside from nicotine dependence (SDH) are linked to affect disruption. AIMS: The present study explored positive and negative affective mechanisms across four groups with varying SDH and TWP including TWP + SDH, TWP only, SDH only, or no history. Researchers hypothesized that adults (n = 78) would be more emotionally reactive to an experimentally-induced negative mood compared to a neutral mood induction as the presence of co-existing TWP and SDH increased. METHOD: After a brief telephone screening, eligible participants completed baseline self-report questionnaires and experimentally-manipulated negative and neutral mood inductions. RESULTS: Most notably, results showed a significant TWP x SDH x Mood induction interaction (F (1, 63) = 4.154; Mse = 51.999; p = .046) for positive affect responses. Simple effects indicated that all participants except TWP + SDH individuals experienced a significant decrease in positive affect during the negative compared to the neutral mood condition. CONCLUSION: Findings may identify a protective mechanism for relapse among individuals with a history of both TWP and SDH.

Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 2014

The purpose of the present study was to examine the interactive effects of social anxiety and psy... more The purpose of the present study was to examine the interactive effects of social anxiety and psychosocial factors (i.e., group attendance, polysubstance use) on substance use treatment for men with a primary diagnosis of alcohol use disorder. Social anxiety and alcohol use disorders often co-occur, but it is currently unclear how having high social anxiety might affect aspects of substance use treatment, such as group participation and length of stay. This study compared men with alcohol use disorder only versus those with alcohol plus other drug disorders in a residential treatment facility. Measures included demographics, self-reported social anxiety, self-reported drug history, attendance at treatment groups, and total number of days in treatment. Of 128 participants, 39 (30.5%) used only alcohol, while 89 (69.5%) used alcohol and other substances. Hierarchical linear regression showed only one significant interaction with social anxiety and length of treatment: people who used alcohol only or alcohol in addition to other substances (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; .05). Simple effects analyses revealed a positive relationship between social anxiety and length of stay among men who used only alcohol, but not among men who used more than one substance. Currently, the distinction between those who use only alcohol and those who use other substances as well is not often examined in the literature. However, the present study shows that this assumption of homogeneity may be inaccurate, given the differential relationships that these groups may have with factors such as social anxiety.

Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2007

Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become the predominant model of training and is emerging as a c... more Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become the predominant model of training and is emerging as a common model of practice for many non-psychology health care professions. Recognizing the relevance of EBP to psychology, the American Psychological Association (APA) developed and endorsed an official policy statement on EBP for the practice of professional psychology. There is now a pressing need to consider ways that EBP can inform scientist-practitioner training. The present article proposes clinical competencies associated with the practice of EBP, and describes initial efforts to implement elements of EBP into training at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. These efforts have occurred in both the classroom and practicum training experiences, and are geared toward helping students become more effective users of the evidence base through their clinical work. Challenges to the implementation of EBP in clinical psychology training are discussed as well.

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 1998

The American Journal on Addictions, 2014

Background and Objectives: Extant research shows a strong relationship between alcohol use proble... more Background and Objectives: Extant research shows a strong relationship between alcohol use problems and sexual aggression. However, less is known about the effect of intermediary factors (eg, alcohol expectations) that may increase the likelihood of and/or explain sexual aggression during alcohol-related incidents. The present study examined alcohol outcome expectancies' (OE) mediating and/or moderating influence on the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression among male college students. Methods and Results: One hundred and forty eight (n ¼ 148) male college students volunteered for the study. Seventy-seven males selfreported committing at least one act of sexual aggression in their lifetime. Among those who sexually aggressed, 74% also reported symptoms of problematic drinking. Results show that sexualityrelated alcohol OE fully mediated the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Results also showed that aggression-related alcohol OE moderated the relationship between problematic alcohol use severity and sexual aggression. Specifically, aggression-related alcohol OE only influenced the relationship between problematic alcohol use and sexual aggression when alcohol problems were less severe. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: Discussion implicates the possible role alcohol prevention may play in reducing sexual aggression on college campuses, particularly as it relates to adjusting alcohol OE among those most likely to perpetrate. (Am J Addict 2014; XX:1-8)