Subjective Effects of Alcohol Predict Alcohol Choice in Social Drinkers

Abstract

Introduction: Alcohol is among the most commonly used psychoactive drugs, yet it can produce markedly different subjective effects in different people. Certain effects, including both heightened stimulatory effects and lesser sedative effects, are thought to predict repeated or excessive use. However, we do not fully understand the nature of these individual differences or their relationships to alcohol consumption. This controlled laboratory study examined subjective and physiologic responses to a moderate dose of alcohol in social drinkers in relation to the subjects' decision to consume alcohol.

Methods: Healthy adult volunteers (N = 95) participated in a 5-session double-blind alcohol choice study. On the first 4 sessions, they received alcohol (0.8 g/kg) and placebo in alternating order, and on the fifth session, they chose and consumed whichever of the 2 they preferred. During each session, participants completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) questionnaires and had their vitals recorded every 30 minutes. We compared subjective and physiologic response to alcohol during the sampling sessions in participants who chose alcohol or placebo on session 5.

Results: Of the 95 participants, 55 chose alcohol (choosers) and 40 chose placebo (nonchoosers). In the full sample, alcohol produced its expected effects (e.g., increased friendliness, elation, and vigor (POMS), and stimulation and sedation (BAES)). The chooser and nonchooser groups did not differ in demographic characteristics, blood alcohol levels, or cardiovascular measures. However, the choosers experienced greater alcohol-induced increases in positive mood (POMS) and liked the drug more, whereas the nonchoosers experienced greater anger, anxiety (POMS), and sedation (BAES) after alcohol.

Conclusion: Both greater positive mood effects and lesser sedative effects after alcohol predicted preference under controlled conditions, suggesting that both factors can predict future consumption of alcohol.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03930446.

Keywords: Alcohol; Drug Choice; Mood; Social Drinkers; Subjective Effects.

Figure 1.

Mean (SEM) peak change scores on scales of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) for alcohol (filled bars) and placebo (open bars) for subjects who chose alcohol (Choosers; N=55) or placebo (Non-Choosers; N=40) on the choice session. Two-way ANOVAs were conducted, followed by t-tests when significant interactions were found. Independent samples t-test (Alcohol): Positive Mood (p=0.005); Anger (0.031). Paired t-test (Non-Choosers): Anger (p=0.01). (*p<0.05; **p<0.01).

Figure 2.

Mean (SEM) peak change scores on the Stimulation and Sedation scales of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) after alcohol (filled bars) and placebo (open bars) in alcohol choosers (Choosers; N=55) and Non-Choosers (N=40). Two-way ANOVAs were conducted, followed by t-tests when significant interactions were found. Independent samples t-test (Alcohol): Sedation (p=0.048). Paired t-test (Choosers): Sedation (p=0.014); (Non-Choosers): Sedation (p<0.001). (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).

Figure 3.

Mean (SEM) cardiovascular measures after alcohol (filled bars) and placebo (open bars) in alcohol choosers (Choosers; N=55) and Non-Choosers (N=40). Panels show heart rate (HR), diastolic blood pressure (DIA BP), and systolic blood pressure (SYS BP). Two-way ANOVAs were conducted, no significant interactions found.

Figure 4.

Mean (± SD) breath alcohol concentration (BrAC; averaged across the two alcohol sessions) over time in alcohol Choosers (N=55) and Non-Choosers (N=40). The groups did not differ in BrAC.

Figure 5.

Mean (SEM) retrospective ratings assessed during the choice session, regarding effects on sampling sessions when they received alcohol (filled bars) or placebo (open bars) for alcohol choosers (Choosers; N=55) and Non-Choosers (N=40). DEQ = Drug Effects Questionnaire. Subjects rated how much they felt a drug effect, liked the effects, and how much they were willing to pay for drug in US dollars. Two-way ANOVAs were conducted, followed by t-tests when significant interactions were found. Independent samples t-test (Alcohol): DEQ Like; (Placebo): Pay (p=0.049). Paired t-test (Choosers): Like (p<0.001), Pay (p<0.001); (Non-Choosers): Pay (p=0.016). (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).