Alcoholics' Expectancies and Recall of Experiences During Intoxication

Comparison of induced and independent major depressive disorders in 2,945 alcoholics

“…The identification of these intoxication-or withdrawal-related mood disorders is important because, contrary to what is expected with independent major depressive episodes (17), the substance-related depressive syndromes are likely to improve markedly within days or weeks of abstinence (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23) or perhaps a bit longer (24)(25)(26). This relatively rapid temporal resolution is supported both by observations of the course of depressive symptoms in subjects participating in heavy-drinking experiments (13)(14)(15) and by studies of alcohol-dependent individuals who abstain (16,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”

“…The problem arises because intoxication with alcohol can cause temporary, but at times severe, affective symptoms, even in subjects with no history of clinically relevant depression (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). The identification of these intoxication-or withdrawal-related mood disorders is important because, contrary to what is expected with independent major depressive episodes (17), the substance-related depressive syndromes are likely to improve markedly within days or weeks of abstinence (18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23) or perhaps a bit longer (24)(25)(26).…”

Self-Ratings of Typical Mood and Behavior during Recovery from Alcohol Abuse

“…Self-ratings of typical dysphoric mood decreased following 2 weeks of recovery from alcohol abuse while self-ratings of typical impulsive behaviors remained unchanged. Within subjects, the magnitude of change in ratings of typical dysphoric mood during the first 2 weeks of recovery from alcohol abuse correlated highly with the level of typical dysphoric mood measured at the onset of alcohol treatment.Before drinking, alcoholics frequently de scribe alcohol as something that improves their mood [9,16]. And yet alcoholics report progressive increases in dysphoric mood during periods of sustained alcohol intake [10,16].…”

“…And yet alcoholics report progressive increases in dysphoric mood during periods of sustained alcohol intake [10,16]. This discrepancy in how alcoholics report behavioral effects of drinking may be explained by the fact that both alcohol abuse [10,14,16,18] and affective symptoms [2] may alter memory performance. However, a number of methodological problems compli cate study of this area.…”

“…This discrepancy in how alcoholics report behavioral effects of drinking may be explained by the fact that both alcohol abuse [10,14,16,18] and affective symptoms [2] may alter memory performance. However, a number of methodological problems compli cate study of this area.In particular, sustained high-dose alcohol consumption is associated with considerable fluctuation of blood alcohol levels [13], im pairment of attention and short-term mem ory [17] and inclination toward impulsive behaviors [15,16]. Each of these factors lim its the number, complexity and reliability of behavioral assessments that are feasible while subjects continue to consume alco hol.…”