Epps J, Monk C, Savage S, Marlatt G A
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620-8200, USA.
Addict Behav. 1998 Jul-Aug;23(4):427-35. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(97)00068-3.
Research using the balanced placebo design seeks to differentiate the physiological and psychological effects of drinking alcohol. Questions regarding the validity of the design center about experimenter instructions, particularly in the antiplacebo cell at higher blood alcohol content (BAC) levels. This study tested the plausibility of two misattribution strategies designed to reduce the conflict between experimenter instructions and internal cues of drunkenness. Forty-two participants (BAC = .055) were told that they received no alcohol, with internal cues of drunkenness said to be produced by a (sham) second drug, a (placebo) tachistoscopic display, or no misattribution given. The placebo drug group reported less alcohol intoxication without reporting less physical impairment than the control or tachistoscopic groups. Doubt of instructions was expressed more frequently in the control group than in the placebo drug group. Mean time to first reported doubt of experimenter instructions was longer for the placebo drug group. A manipulation check designed to account for demand effects indicated that instituting the pharmacologic misattribution increased the success of the manipulation over the control group. Providing a credible attribution for internal symptoms of drunkenness makes experimenter's instructions more credible, improving the validity of the antiplacebo cell of the balanced placebo design.
使用平衡安慰剂设计的研究旨在区分饮酒的生理和心理影响。关于该设计有效性的问题集中在实验者的指示上，尤其是在血液酒精含量（BAC）较高水平的反安慰剂组中。本研究测试了两种错误归因策略的合理性，这两种策略旨在减少实验者指示与醉酒内部线索之间的冲突。42名参与者（BAC = 0.055）被告知他们没有摄入酒精，据称醉酒的内部线索是由一种（假）第二种药物、一种（安慰剂）速示器显示产生的，或者不进行错误归因。与对照组或速示器组相比，安慰剂药物组报告的酒精中毒程度较低，但身体损伤程度并未减轻。对照组比安慰剂药物组更频繁地表达对指示的怀疑。安慰剂药物组首次报告对实验者指示产生怀疑的平均时间更长。一项旨在考虑需求效应的操纵检查表明，采用药理学错误归因比对照组更能提高操纵的成功率。为醉酒的内部症状提供可信的归因会使实验者的指示更可信，从而提高平衡安慰剂设计中反安慰剂组的有效性。
