Women who participated in this study responded to an advertisement in local newspapers recruiting female volunteers with and without a family history of alcoholism. Individuals were told that the purpose of the study was to determine the effects of various drugs (non-prescription or prescription) and alcohol on mood, vital signs and ability to perform certain tasks across the menstrual cycle. The Institutional Review Board of the New York State Psychiatric Institute approved this study. Participants gave their written informed consent before beginning the study and were paid for their participation.
