Hyperventilation and anxiety: alcohol withdrawal symptoms decreasing with prolonged abstinence.

We previously presented evidence that hyperventilatory and anxiety symptoms are the result of physically dependent alcohol use rather than a premorbid condition. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of prolonged abstinence versus resumption of dependent drinking on those symptoms. Two questionnaires (a hyperventilation complaint checklist and Spielberger's Anxiety Inventory) were presented twice to 15 ss, once during an inpatient treatment and once after a median followup period of 17 months. Six ss were abstinent for the entire period, 3 were abstinent with 1 or 2 slips and 6 ss were drinking in a dependent way again for at least 6 months. In the abstinent or abstinent-with-slips group, a significant decrease over time in hyperventilatory symptoms and trait (but not state) anxiety could be found, whereas in the dependent drinking group there was a significant increase in hyperventilatory symptoms and state (but not trait) anxiety. An extended followup in 5 abstinent ss showed a continued decrease in those symptoms. These results provide further evidence for the hypothesis that hyperventilation and anxiety are part of a subacute alcohol withdrawal syndrome.