Predictors of polysubstance use in patients with severe alcohol use disorder: the role of reward craving

Background: Different craving typologies (i.e., reward, relief, obsessive) have been identified in alcohol use disorder (AUD) but have been less investigated in specific populations like AUD patients with polysubstance use (PSU). The role of dysfunctional personality traits and reward pathways has been reported in both AUD and PSU. We hypothesized that patients with AUD-PSU might show a prevalent reward craving, alongside specific sociodemographic, clinical, and personality features, and aimed at investigating differences in 423 severe AUD outpatients with and without PSU. Methods: One hundred fifteen patients (27.1% of the sample, 67% males, 42 ± 11.6 years old) displayed PSU. Sociodemographic, clinical features and psychopathological/personality dimensions were assessed through: Craving Typologies Questionnaire (CTQ); Obsessive–Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS); UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P); Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). A binomial logistic regression explored factors associated with PSU. Results: We found higher CTQ ‘reward’ scores (p < 0.001) in AUD-PSU patients, and a significant association between reward craving and PSU through logistic regression (OR:1.13; p = 0.005). Earlier AUD onset (p < 0.001), greater rates of binge drinking (p = 0.029), more legal problems (p = 0.015), but no significantly higher S-UPPS-S and DERS scores, were detected in AUD-PSU patients. Conclusions: Reward craving was associated with increased risk for PSU in severe AUD patients. Given AUD-PSU participants greater severity and detrimental treatment responses imputed to PSU, identifying prevalent craving types among risk factors for PSU in AUD may help to implement therapeutic strategies. Addressing neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms through combined psychotherapies, pharmacological and neuromodulation treatments could support tailored interventions with better long-term outcome.