Deficits in the regulation of ethanol intake by alcoholics.

In an appropriate experimental paradigm, loss-of-control drinking can be demonstrated when an individual consumes sufficient ethanol over time to cause his blood alcohol level (BAL) to rise progressively above a previously established, designated range. For this study, 10 alcoholics were exposed to a training session and provided accurate feedback of their blood alcohol level at ten 15-minute intervals. On following days, they were then exposed to three exposed to three experimental sessions during which they were instructed to maintain their BAL within the established training session range by relying primarily on interoceptive cues. The experimental sessions were characterized by distorted or no feedback concerning blood alcohol levels as the basis for drinking-decision behavior. The results indicated that 60% of alcoholics displayed loss-of-control (LOC) (by our criterion) in a least one session, the greatest percentage in the "No Feedback" session. The results were interpreted to support our theory of a neurophysiologic feedback dysfunction associated with LOC drinking.