Distress Tolerance as a Potential Target for Change: The Relationship Between Distress Tolerance, Craving, and Alcohol Consumption in a Lab-based Experiment

Distress tolerance (DT) has recently been studied as a potential catalyst for the development ofalcohol use disorder (AUD). Research exploring the relationship between DT and craving is limited and has primarily focused on nicotine craving. Furthermore, there are no current studies examining the relationship between DT and alcohol consumption. This study was designed to fill this gap in the literature, which may shed light on a potentially important target for alcohol use treatment. Additionally, the role of mindfulness was explored in the context of the relationship between DT and alcohol craving and consumption, with the intention of expanding on the existing literature demonstrating the utility of mindfulness-based interventions for AUD. This study consisted of 71 participants age 21-35, recruited as part of a larger research study. Trait DT, trait mindfulness, and an initial craving rating were assessed at baseline. Individuals were then given a negative mood induction task. After the mood induction, individuals were given measures of momentary distress intolerance and craving. Next, participants were given an alcohol taste-task to measure ad libitum alcohol consumption, after which they completed a measure of state mindfulness. Individuals with higher momentary distress intolerance after the mood induction had a greater increase in craving from pre- to post- mood induction; there was no significant relationship between trait DT and craving. Trait DT and momentary distress intolerance were not predictive of alcohol consumption in this study. Additionally, mindfulness measures did not moderate the relationship between DT measures and alcohol craving or consumption. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between DT and alcohol craving and alcohol consumption, as well as the potentially important role of mindfulness in the treatment of AUD

The work of a religious representative in a democratic legislature: A case study of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man in Tynwald, 1961-2001

The Isle of Man is a largely autonomous territory of the United Kingdom Crown, whose dominant constitutional body is the Tynwald. Tynwald, although meeting regularly as a single body, is for most purposes divided into two Branches – a directly elected House of Keys, and the Legislative Council. The latter includes among its members the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man. This study draws upon the legislative debates of Tynwald between 1961 and 2001 to examine the nature of the Bishop’s role. Analysis shows that the Bishop was expected to contribute to debate in two major areas – moral issues and technical issues concerning the Manx Church. Additionally, the Bishops operated within expectations as to their modes of contribution. The strongest of these was that the Bishop should not become entangled in party politics. There was also a strong expectation that the Bishop should represent the Manx Church and Christianity more generally, although this expectation does not seem to have been realised in relation to non-Christian religions. There is also evidence that the Bishop was also entitled to use both secular and religious modes of argumentation, and that he should not have expected to the be the only religious voice in Tynwald, or even the uncontested voice of the Manx Church