Distinct affective processing of emotionally stimulating written words and pictures in patients with alcohol dependence

Received 3 May 2008; received in revised form 18 June 2008; accepted 15 July 2008.

Abstract

We explored the affective processing of patients with alcohol dependence to emotionally stimulating written words and pictures. The alcoholic group demonstrated dichotomous responses and was incapable of compromising in neutral conditions. The dichotomous response pattern and positivity offset differed between words and pictures in patients with alcohol dependence.

Keywords: Alcohol dependence, Dichotomous response, Positivity offset

Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemeun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea

Corresponding author. Tel.: +82 31 760 9405; fax: +82 31 761 7582.

PII: S0165-1781(08)00225-4

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2008.07.005

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