The role of anxiety in predicting drinking behaviour.

Aims: We investigated whether reduced anxiety predicted improved drinking outcomes over and above age of onset and ondansetron treatment among alcoholics enrolled in a clinical trial.

Methods: Study design was a 2 (early onset alcoholics versus late onset alcoholics) x 4 (placebo and ondansetron 1, 4 and 16 micro g/kg twice daily) factorial randomized clinical trial during which all participants received weekly group cognitive behavioural therapy. Using weighted least squares regression, we examined the effects of ondansetron dose, age of onset, pre-treatment drinking and anxiety level (measured by Profile of Mood States) on end-state drinking behaviour.