Work

Idiographically Determined Versus Standard Absorption Periods in Alcohol Administration Studies

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Effects of alcohol vary depending on blood alcohol level and limb. Some researchers use standard absorption periods (SAPs) to determine when postdrinking experimental protocols should begin. Others use an idiographically determined absorption period (IDAP) based on criterion breath alcohol concentration (BrAC). We investigated and compared the characteristics of each method. METHODS: Sixty-eight social drinkers (47% women) consumed a bolus dose of alcohol intended to raise BrAC to 0.08%. BrACs were recorded every 3 minutes until beginning to descend. Minutes to reach criterion BrAC (0.06%) and between-subjects postdrinking BrAC variability were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean time to reach 0.06% BrAC was 22.9 +/- 14.6 minutes. Standard deviations in BrAC were 4 times greater using SAPs compared to IDAPs. Ten percent of participants' BrAC readings were on the descending limb 30 minutes postdrinking, and 25% were descending at 45 minutes postdrinking. CONCLUSIONS: IDAPs result in less BrAC variability and may reduce experimental noise relative to SAPs. Experimental control in future alcohol administration studies may be enhanced by the use of IDAPs instead of SAPs.

Source: Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research

DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2010.01165.x

Authors: Rebecca L. Schacht, Susan A. Stoner, William H. George, Jeanette Norris

Institutions: University of Washington, Talaria (United States)

Language: English

Topic: Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism