Anxiety about drinking in alcoholics.

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Abstract
Hypotheses that alcoholics would show increases in anxiety (a) when anticipating and (b) after having taken a drink were tested. 30 alcoholics, 30 normals, and 30 schizophrenics were tested on 2 occasions With the Nowlls-Green Mood Adjective Check List (MACL). Following the 1st test session each diagnostic group was randomly divided into 3 groups which received different uxper1 mental treatments (a) a control group was told they would receive no alcohol, (b) an anticipatory group was told they would be given a drink following testing, and (c) an experimental group drank 1 oz. of whiskey and was then tested. Only the alcoholic anticipatory group Increased significantly on the anxiety factor of the MACL. This result (a) supported the hypothesis that alcoholics become more anxious.than nonalcohollcs when anticipating taking a drink, and (b) suggests the beginnings of an empirical foundation to which certain treatment procedures for alcoholics may be related.