In addition to producing positive subjective effects, alcohol generally produced comparable changes in mood between FHP and FHN women. However, some of the baseline dysphoric mood observed in FHP women did not improve after alcohol administration (e.g., increased depression and decreased friendliness) and moreover, alcohol increased ratings of confusion and depression more in FHP women than FHN women, particularly during the luteal phase. Taken together with previous studies documenting that depression predicts increased alcohol consumption and problem drinking, particularly among women (Gilman and Abraham, 2001; Hartka et al., 1991; Helzer and Pryzbeck, 1988) and that individuals with a paternal history of alcoholism are at increased risk to develop depression and alcoholism (Anda et al., 2002), these data suggest that FHP women may be at greater risk for abusing alcohol in an attempt to relieve their dysphoric symptoms.
