Acetaminophen Intake as a Detached Coping Mechanism in College Students

Cooper, Caroline

Acetaminophen Intake as a Detached Coping Mechanism in College Students

Persistent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/10456/40516

Author(s)

Cooper, Caroline

Date Issued

November 10, 2015

Abstract

Acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, has been found to reduce both physical and social pain by acting on the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the anterior insula, two areas of the brain previously associated with distress. Acetaminophen also reduces compensatory affirmation following threats, evaluation sensitivity and discomfort from decision-making. In order to reduce distress people will engage in a variety of coping styles to lower their discomfort. The purpose of the present study is to investigate if people who engage more in coping also take more acetaminophen. Participants completed a coping styles questionnaire, a pain inventory and a modified version of the Core drug and alcohol survey to determine acetaminophen intake. Detached coping skills were found to be significantly correlated to acetaminophen intake (r=.26, p<.05). It was concluded that people who tend to engage in detached coping also tend to take more acetaminophen.

Major

Neuroscience

Psychology

First Reader(s)

Rutledge, Patricia Carr