Social decision making in severe alcohol use disorder: Scoping review and experimental perspectives. (5th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gautier, Mado; Pabst, Arthur; Maurage, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 45:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1548
• Page End: 1559
• Publication Date: 2021-09-05
• Subjects: moral dilemmas -- severe alcohol use disorder -- social decision making -- social problem‐solving -- ultimatum game; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.14664
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Patients with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD) demonstrate multifaceted impairments in social cognition abilities, including emotional decoding or Theory of Mind. Such impairments are associated with real‐life interpersonal difficulties, which in turn could contribute to the persistence of SAUD. However, little is known regarding how patients with SAUD make decisions in a social context and this literature has not been comprehensively reviewed. Objectives: The main aim of this paper was to conduct the first review specifically focusing on social decision‐making abilities in SAUD. Following PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews, we describe existing knowledge regarding the difficulties experienced by patients with SAUD during social interactions. Our second objective was to propose perspectives for future research, based on the shortcomings identified in the available literature. Design: We searched three online databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus) and identified 14 papers using behavioral tasks to assess social decision making in patients with SAUD. Results: Included studies assessed social decision making through three paradigms: (1) economic games (four papers), (2) moral dilemmas (four papers), and (3) interpersonal problem‐solving (six papers). Results indicated that patients with SAUD behave differently from controls in all three paradigms. Conclusions: Previous studies suggested large‐scale social decision‐making impairments or biases in SAUD. However, in light of the limited number of studies available and of the restricted set of processes measured, we call for the extension of this field through more ecologically relevant and model‐based paradigms in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Abstract : Patients with severe alcohol use disorder (SAUD) demonstrate multifaceted social cognition impairments, but less is known regarding their decisions in social contexts. We reviewed studies exploring social decision‐making in SAUD, which focused on economic games, moral dilemmas and social problem‐solving. They suggest that patients with SAUD present increased unfairness sensitivity in economic games, utilitarian bias in social dilemmas and reduced social problem‐solving abilities. A better understanding of these processes may improve relapse prevention strategies, as interpersonal difficulties affect disease's course.