PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY OF ALCOHOL

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Abstract
The change in affect accompanying intravenous alcohol infusion was measured using the Clyde Mood Scale in 2 groups of alcoholic patients. In the 1st group, intoxicated to a low level, significant improvement in 1 mood factor was accompanied by deterioration in another. The 2nd group, intoxicated to a moderate level, failed to show significant improvement in any mood factor. The findings suggest that, in these alcoholic patients, affective improvement with intoxication would be minimal and transient and probably optimal at the level of mild intoxication. The affective improvement in these alcoholic patients was less than that previously seen in nonalcoholic subjects. The minimal affective improvement seen with the experimental intoxication procedure contrasted with the reports of the effects of drinking since the majority of the patients felt they experienced relaxation and elevation in mood from their drinking. These findings raise questions about theories of alcoholism which are based upon affective improvement with intoxication. The possibility of affective tolerance to alcohol intoxication and the importance of nonpharmacological factors in the drinking experience are discussed.

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