EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM ABSTINENCE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING - A PROSPECTIVE LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS COMPARING ALCOHOL-DEPENDENT PATIENTS ANDHEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

Using a prospective longitudinal design, differences between abstinent alcohol-dependent patients (n = 15) and abstinent healthy volunteers (n = 11) were determined with respect to their psychological functioni ng and alcohol consumption patterns following abstinence. Results show ed no differences in alcohol consumption. In 20% of the patients and 9 % of the controls more than 10% of protocols indicated alcohol intake, and in 27% of the patients and 27% of the controls less than 10% of p rotocols indicated alcohol intake. Total abstinence was reported by 53 % of the patients and by 64% of the controls. For patients, validation of self-reported alcohol consumption was carried out via biological m arkers. Patients and controls differed in terms of: increased sleep, e uphoria, concentration, initiative, anxiety, negative and positive cra ving. pessimistic thoughts, autonomic disturbances, and humour. A grad ual normalization back to baseline levels was observed for some sympto ms. These results suggest that affective/mood states may be unstable f or alcoholics, and further, that these symptoms may be related to the protracted withdrawal syndrome or may represent residual symptomatolog y.