Do sleep patterns relate to the desire for alcohol?

A measure of disposition to drink in alcoholics was developed using a progressive ratio schedule for reduction of delay in receiving a drink of two ounces of 95 proof ethanol. This measure showed increased disposition to drink during early abstinence compared to lab abstinence (more than seven days) during experimental intoxication compared to lab abstinence and shortly after a low dose drink during late abstinence. A multiple regression analysis of this measure for four subjects after alcohol withdrawal, showed significant effects for days abstinent and EEG sleep variables, particularly stage REM%. Low REM% was associated with high values for the disposition to drink. REM sleep deprivation, however, failed to significantly alter the measure of disposition to drink. Results are interpreted as supporting the hypotheses that sleep disturbances relate indirectly to the disposition to drink.