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Acetaminophen, Affect, and Risk: An Analysis of Psychological and Neurochemical Mechanisms

Keaveney, Alexis A
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1477054183340724

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Psychology.
Recent research has demonstrated that acetaminophen reduces affective reactivity. Because affect is a critical determinant of risk perception and risk-taking, this drug taken by 23% of Americans each week could potentially impact these important judgments and decisions. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of acetaminophen on well-validated risk perception and risk-taking tasks. In Study 1 (N = 142) and Study 2 (N = 189), we demonstrated that acute doses of acetaminophen increase risk-taking behavior. This increase in risk-taking emerged on post-loss trials, not on the first trial, suggesting acetaminophen may be affecting how individuals respond to experiences of loss. However, acetaminophen did not affect self-reports of reactivity to loss events, motivation to avoid loss, focus on gains or losses, or perceived probability of a loss. In Study 2, but not Study 1, we also found evidence that acetaminophen reduced the negative correlation between perceived risk and benefit in some risk perception domains, suggesting less reliance on the “affect heuristic.” To examine the neurochemical mechanism underlying this effect, Study 3 tested whether the increase in risk-taking extends to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen. We did not find an effect of ibuprofen on risk-taking overall, but did see a significant increase in risk-taking among those who reported higher recent illness and who received ibuprofen. Taken together, the results suggest acetaminophen, an over-the-counter drug, can impact critically important risk judgment and risk-taking behavior.
Baldwin Way (Advisor)
Jennifer Crocker (Committee Member)
Ellen Peters (Committee Member)
69 p.
Social Psychology
acetaminophen; risk; risk-taking; ibuprofen; affect heuristic; risk perception

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Keaveney, A. A. (2016). Acetaminophen, Affect, and Risk: An Analysis of Psychological and Neurochemical Mechanisms [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1477054183340724

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Keaveney, Alexis. Acetaminophen, Affect, and Risk: An Analysis of Psychological and Neurochemical Mechanisms . 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1477054183340724.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Keaveney, Alexis. "Acetaminophen, Affect, and Risk: An Analysis of Psychological and Neurochemical Mechanisms ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1477054183340724

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1477054183340724
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.