The Changing Effects of Drinking on the Changing Personalities of Alcoholics

The hypothesis that a change in the effects of drinking on personality traits may contribute to the deterioration in life functioning seen clinically in alcoholism was tested by a retrospective self-evaluation in 53 male alcoholics undergoing voluntary treatment in the Central Islip State Hospital, N. Y., with an average age of 43 1/2 years and average education of 12 years. They rated themselves on 13 separate personality traits, as when sober and as “after a few drinks,” for two time periods: an earlier period in their lives (average age 23 years) when functioning was adequate, and the period just prior to hospitalization. While sober in the early period they reported poor self-confidence, difficulty in expressing anger, greater than average tension and oversensitivity; and that drinking tended to correct or reverse these inadequacies. While sober in the recent period the same personality problems were recognized; but a marked shift after drinking was noted: from less than average to greater than average depression; reduced general activity, ambition, and sexual activity; more extreme responses and greater variability in behavior. A qualitative shift in the effect of drinking on personality was recorded in 40% or more of the subjects on 9 of the 13 traits and by at least 25% on the remaining 4 traits. The shift may not be entirely due to changes in personality and behavior; alteration in the response of the central nervous system to alcohol caused by prolonged alcohol intoxication may also be implicated

Anger · Big Five personality traits · Depression (economics) · Personality · Personality changes · Personality psychology · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Gambling Behavior and Treatments · Medicine · Mental Health Research Topics · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes