Spidy
08-09-2007, 08:42 PM
Alcohol appears to reduce anxiety sensitivity for some
Anxiety may cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat or a queasy stomach, for anyone, even people without anxiety disorders. Some people, however, become anxious about the physical symptoms themselves. Researchers in Canada describe such people as having "anxiety sensitivity," a condition which affects about 16% of the population, they believe. The researchers have discovered that people with anxiety sensitivity may be at risk for alcohol abuse because alcohol, they found, provides relief from anxiety sensitivity.
The participants in the study were 102 undergraduate university students divided into two categories: 51 with high anxiety sensitivity and 51 with low anxiety sensitivity. Researchers gave participants either a placebo, a low dose of alcohol, or a high dose of alcohol.
For each category, 17 people with low anxiety sensitivity and 17 with high sensitivity were assigned. After consumption and absorption of the alcohol, participants underwent a 3-minute voluntary hyperventilation challenge. After the hyperventilation challenge, participants described what they experienced in three categories: anxious thoughts, negative emotions, and physical sensations.
Participants with high anxiety sensitivity, who took the placebo, reacted to the hyperventilation challenge with more fearful thoughts and negative emotions than participants with low anxiety sensitivity. For the participants with high anxiety sensitivity who consumed alcohol, emotional and cognitive reactions were much lower that those who were given the placebo. Additionally, relief from these reactions was dose-dependent: participants given the higher dose of alcohol described even fewer reactions than those on the lower dose. Physical sensations resulting from the hyperventilation challenge were reduced for all participants (with either high or low anxiety sensitivity) who consumed alcohol. Of the participants with low anxiety sensitivity, there were no differences in feelings or thoughts reported by those who took the placebo and those who consumed alcohol.
Because of the relief alcohol provided for participants with high anxiety sensitivity, the reasearchers feel that people with high anxiety sensitivity may be at risk for alcohol abuse. A person who feels such relief may be inclined to use alcohol more regularly. Additionally, abuse may result from increased dosing of alcohol which appears to provide increased relief from anxiety sensivitity.
The researchers feel that these findings could provide a new direction in the treatment of alcoholism in people who have anxiety sensitivity. Further studies, they feel, should focus on whether or not such people are able to remain abstinent either with or without treatment of the anxiety sensitivity.
Reference: MacDonald AB, Baker JM, Stewart SH, Skinner M (2000), Effects of alcohol on the response to hyperventilation of participants high and low in anxiety sensitivity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 24:1656.
thanks,
spidy.
Anxiety may cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat or a queasy stomach, for anyone, even people without anxiety disorders. Some people, however, become anxious about the physical symptoms themselves. Researchers in Canada describe such people as having "anxiety sensitivity," a condition which affects about 16% of the population, they believe. The researchers have discovered that people with anxiety sensitivity may be at risk for alcohol abuse because alcohol, they found, provides relief from anxiety sensitivity.
The participants in the study were 102 undergraduate university students divided into two categories: 51 with high anxiety sensitivity and 51 with low anxiety sensitivity. Researchers gave participants either a placebo, a low dose of alcohol, or a high dose of alcohol.
For each category, 17 people with low anxiety sensitivity and 17 with high sensitivity were assigned. After consumption and absorption of the alcohol, participants underwent a 3-minute voluntary hyperventilation challenge. After the hyperventilation challenge, participants described what they experienced in three categories: anxious thoughts, negative emotions, and physical sensations.
Participants with high anxiety sensitivity, who took the placebo, reacted to the hyperventilation challenge with more fearful thoughts and negative emotions than participants with low anxiety sensitivity. For the participants with high anxiety sensitivity who consumed alcohol, emotional and cognitive reactions were much lower that those who were given the placebo. Additionally, relief from these reactions was dose-dependent: participants given the higher dose of alcohol described even fewer reactions than those on the lower dose. Physical sensations resulting from the hyperventilation challenge were reduced for all participants (with either high or low anxiety sensitivity) who consumed alcohol. Of the participants with low anxiety sensitivity, there were no differences in feelings or thoughts reported by those who took the placebo and those who consumed alcohol.
Because of the relief alcohol provided for participants with high anxiety sensitivity, the reasearchers feel that people with high anxiety sensitivity may be at risk for alcohol abuse. A person who feels such relief may be inclined to use alcohol more regularly. Additionally, abuse may result from increased dosing of alcohol which appears to provide increased relief from anxiety sensivitity.
The researchers feel that these findings could provide a new direction in the treatment of alcoholism in people who have anxiety sensitivity. Further studies, they feel, should focus on whether or not such people are able to remain abstinent either with or without treatment of the anxiety sensitivity.
Reference: MacDonald AB, Baker JM, Stewart SH, Skinner M (2000), Effects of alcohol on the response to hyperventilation of participants high and low in anxiety sensitivity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 24:1656.
thanks,
spidy.