Reinforcing mood effects of alcohol in coping and enhancement motivated drinkers.
BACKGROUND
People may be motivated to drink because of differential sensitivities to the rewarding outcomes of alcohol consumption. Previous research has demonstrated that alcohol may produce both potentially positive reinforcing effects (i.e., increased elation; Conrad et al., 2001) and potentially negative reinforcing effects (i.e., anxiolytic effects; Levenson st al., 1980). It was desired to test the effects of alcohol on mood in a sample of two groups of drinkers that report different motivations for alcohol use. It was hypothesized that both potentially positive and negative reinforcing mood effects would be observed and that these effects would be moderated by drinking motive.


METHODS
Twenty-four drinkers with Coping Motives (CMs) and 24 drinkers with Enhancement Motives (EMs) were randomly assigned to either an alcohol condition (target blood alcohol level of 0.08%) or a placebo condition. Participants used the Profile of Mood States-Bipolar (Lorr, 1983) to report their mood at (1) sober baseline, (2) after beverage consumption, and (3) during anticipation of a self-disclosing speech (a stressor).


RESULTS
As hypothesized, after drinking, those in the alcohol group reported increased feelings of elation and energy relative to sober baseline. Those receiving alcohol also reported feeling more confused and anxious after beverage consumption. Also as hypothesized, participants receiving alcohol reported feeling increased sedation during anticipation of the stressor, whereas those receiving placebo reported increased energy during this period. Contrary to the hypothesis, none of these effects were moderated by drinking motive.


CONCLUSIONS
Although potentially positive and negative reinforcing mood effects of alcohol were observed, CM and EM drinkers were not differentially sensitive to these effects. However, it is possible that EM drinkers may highly value the baseline stimulating effects of alcohol, whereas CM drinkers may highly value the anxiolytic effects that were observed during anticipation of the stressor.
Wilkie
Heather
H
Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. wilkie@uwindsor.ca
Stewart
Sherry H
SH
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D001944:Breath Tests; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D000431:Ethanol