Personality and situation as determiners of desire to drink among problem drinkers

Interaction between (a) Anxiety-Neuroticism, Depression, Sensation Seeking, and Extroversion; and (b) desire to drink alcohol in different situations (Boring, Ceremonial, Convivial, Stressful, and Neutral) was investigated in a sample of 152 adults in detoxification centres. The desire to drink alcohol was found to vary depending upon the situation, although the general level of such desire was high. Those subjects high on Anxiety-Neuroticism were found to have an elevated desire to drink in Stressful, Convivial, and Boring situations. No evidence for interaction was found with Depression, Sensation Seeking, or Extroversion.