Ethanol retards desensitisation of simple phobias in non-alcoholics.
Twenty non-alcoholic patients with DSM-III defined simple phobias for small animals received behavioural approach tests and exposure therapy while under the influence of a moderately intoxicating dose of ethanol or after placebo administration. Ethanol did not demonstrate any acute anti-anxiety effect, but retarded the rate of behavioural in vivo desensitisation, without changing the final treatment outcome. State-dependent effects of ethanol on anxiety were not demonstrated. This study supports prior research indicating no anti-anxiety or 'tension-reducing' effects of ethanol for simple phobias.
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation
D000431:Ethanol