Sensitivity for self-discrepancy predicts alcohol consumption in alcohol- dependent inpatients with high self-consciousness

Poncin, Marie [UCL] Dethier, Vincent [UCL] Philippot, Pierre [UCL] Vermeulen, Nicolas [UCL] de Timary, Philippe [UCL]

Background: A specific sense of self and sensitivity to self-threatening situations among alcohol-dependent (AD) individuals has often been reported by clinicians. Unpleasant self-awareness of situations of personal failure may lead to relapse, especially for AD individuals with high self-consciousness. However, the implication of Higgins’ self-discrepancy theory for alcohol-dependence has not yet been empirically investigated. This study tested the relation between self-discrepancies evaluated by the Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire and different self-related dimensions (i.e., self-consciousness, depression, emotional regulations strategies) in alcohol-dependence. Methods: Forty-four AD inpatients (28 men) presenting with an Axis-1 diagnosis of alcohol-dependence (DSMIV) and recruited during detoxification process completed Self-Discrepancy Questionnaire and others self-related questionnaires. Results: High self-discrepancies and associated distress were related to more negative affect, depression, abstract-analytical ruminations, and to lower adaptive emotion regulation strategies and higher alcohol craving and alcohol intake. Self-discrepancies and associated distress predicted alcohol intake but only in high selfconsciousness AD population. Conclusion: Self-discrepancies lead to discomfort and to emotional distress, which may results of more nonadaptive ruminations and less adaptive emotion regulation strategies. This unpleasant awareness of self-discrepancy predicted higher alcohol craving and alcohol intake. Two subpopulations were distinguished by the sensitivity to selfdiscrepancy according to their level of self-consciousness.