The Structure of the Expected and Actual Subjective Effects of Alcohol

Abstract

The 23 items from Schuckit (1984) were administered to 156 medical students and an 11-item questionnaire was derived from a factor analysis of their responses. It measured six expectancy factors; (1) ability to perform after alcohol, (2) low mood, (3) arousal, (4) dizziness, (5) stomach symptoms and (6) heart symptoms. This was then administered to 90 male subjects who were going to receive alcohol in a balanced-placebo design. For these subjects, “Able to perform” was the largest prior expectancy factor and in ratings of actual current state after alcohol or placebo it was reduced by alcohol consumption. The other items combined to form a single factor “Side effects”, which, despite subjects expectations, was unaffected by alcohol consumption. It is suggested that intoxication is not unidimensional and that this brief questionnaire may be used to control for subject's expectancies.

Key Words:

• Alchohol
• expectations
• subjective effects