Cues for Drinking and Degrees of Alcohol Dependence

Summary In this study, alcoholic subjects were divided as to their degree of dependence by an independent rater and were given a questionnaire designed to elicit information on which a variety of cues influenced drinking behaviour. Overall, the study supported other findings in suggesting that ‐high arousal states symptomatic of withdrawal and negative mood states were seen by those suffering from alcohol dependence as important and influential situations. The severely dependent group not only endorsed withdrawal items more, as would be expected, but also those items suggesting a priming effect and loss of control phenonema.