The alcohol dependence syndrome includes the presence of alcohol tolerance, physical dependence and an inability to control one's alcohol intake. Studies are reviewed that implicate the mesolimbic dopaminergic systems, and the y-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) and A'-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors as mediators of various aspects of the alcohol dependence syndrome. It is suggested that alcohol-...

When philosophers want an example of a person who lacks the ability to do otherwise, they turn to psychopathology. Addicts, agoraphobics, kleptomaniacs, neurotics, obsessives, and even psychopathic serial murderers, are all purportedly subject to irresistible desires that compel the person to act: no alternative possibility is supposed to exist. I argue that this conception of psychopathology i...

Abstract Compulsions are the hall mark of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but there has been surprisingly little research on their phenomenology and persistence, much this work focused checking compulsions. The current study examined hand wash duration in participants (N = 235) with high or normative contamination fear who either “contaminated” hands not, under vs. low responsibility/harm c...

Women are expected to care, both in public and private life, for the sick as well as the healthy. Some women have difficulties in limiting their caring, despite being deeply careworn. In this life-course study, based on in-depth interviews with elderly women in Sweden, the concept "compulsive sensitivity" presents a way toward understanding their difficulties. Compulsive sensitivity denotes the...

There is an increasing recognition of the importance of diet in the prevention of CHD. Dietary recommendations of various authoritative bodies are summarized. There is now a concensus of opinion concerning certain nutritional changes needed. These have important implications for education, agriculture, food labelling and food subsidies. It is concluded that a national food policy is needed, but...