Changes in alcohol craving and consumption by phase of menstrual cycle in alcohol dependent women (2006)

[Jatelka]

A new entry has been added to Drugs Archive

Description:
Journal of Substance Use October 2006; 11(5): 323–332

E. E. EPSTEIN

, K. C. RHINES, S. COOK, B. ZDEP-MATTOCKS,N. K. JENSEN, & B. S. MCCRADY

The current study examines the menstrual cycle–alcohol relationship during 6 months of weekly
outpatient sessions as part of a larger treatment outcome study for alcohol-dependent females.
Twelve premenopausal women in the clinical trial who were menstruating regularly and not on oral
contraceptives kept a daily log of menstruation days, alcohol consumption and cravings. Three
menstrual cycle phases were defined: menses, premenstrual, and ‘‘other.’’ Within subjects repeated measures analyses on the subsample of 12 women showed that, despite a lower average number of cravings, drinking frequency was higher in the premenstruum than the ‘‘other’’ phase in the first 3 months of treatment. In addition, according to a self-report item on a measure given to 96 women in the larger study, 48 (69%) women under the age of 50 endorsed the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle as a drinking cue. Of these 48, 44% considered it a major drinking cue. These
preliminary data support the value of continuing to investigate the relationship between phases of the

menstrual cycle and alcohol consumption among female alcoholics



To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit Changes in alcohol craving and consumption by phase of menstrual cycle in alcohol dependent women (2006)
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.