Investigated in 2 experiments the effects of intoxication, expectation of intoxication, and state dependency on learning and relearning in male heavy social drinkers (college students). In both studies, Ss participated in 2 daily sessions. On Day 1, intoxicated and sober Ss were presented with word lists for immediate free recall, followed by total free recall of all words. On Day 2, with or without a change in drug state, Ss were given a 2nd total recall test, the same lists for immediate recall, and a 3rd total recall test. In Exp I, 10 Ss served in each of 4 groups formed by crossing expectation with reception of alcohol on Day 1; all Ss were sober on Day 2. In Exp II, 12 Ss served in each of 4 groups formed by crossing drug state on Day 1 with drug state on Day 2 (sober–sober, sober–intoxicated, intoxicated–intoxicated, intoxicated–sober), and all expected alcohol. In both studies, intoxication produced a performance deficit, but retention loss on Day 2 was the same for changed and constant-state Ss. Expectation had no effect on performance. Results are discussed in terms of an alcohol-induced storage deficiency rather than a retrieval deficit. (21 ref)

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The personality construct of cynical hostility, as measured by the Cook-Medley scale (an MMPI subscale)

The personality construct of cynical hostility, as measured by the Cook-Medley scale (an MMPI subscale), has been implicated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A literature review suggests that Vietnam veterans exhibit many cynical hostility-like characteristics. We examined the association between Cook-Medley scores and PTSD among Vietnam and other-era veterans. Study 1 involved analyses of data from 1293 MMPIs administered at Department of Veterans Affairs in Honolulu between 1986-1991. Cook-Medley scores were highly correlated with MMPI PTSD scores, and Vietnam Era veterans obtained higher scores than veterans from other eras. In Study 2, twenty nine Vietnam veterans with PTSD disability ratings obtained very high Cook-Medley scores which were higher than Vietnam Era veterans without rated PTSD. Findings indicate that the cynical hostility literature has considerable relevance for study of PTSD and suggest that PTSD veterans may have heightened risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Several directions for future research are suggested.

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