Alcohol withdrawal and mood.
The usefulness of a self-report technique for description of mood was tested at various stages of alcohol withdrawal. The Mood Adjective Check List (MACL), consisting of 71 mood-associated adjectives and measuring 6 bipolar aspects of mood, was used. Three groups of alcohol-dependent patients (DSM-III-R) reported on their momentary mood states twice a day, respectively, during early withdrawal (n = 78), during late withdrawal (n = 13), and after full remission (n = 12). Significant improvement was found in all 6 mood dimensions during early withdrawal. Improvement in 3 basic mood dimensions was also found during late withdrawal, thus indicating a prolonged time of recovery. The reports given by patients in full remission showed no changes in mood over time. Relative to norm group values, significant differences were found in 4 of the 6 mood dimensions for patients in very early withdrawal. The present study shows that mood changes attributable to after-effects of alcohol intake can be assessed and described during various stages of withdrawal.
Bokström
K
K
Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Balldin
J
J
Långström
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
D000431:Ethanol