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This study examines a model of travel mode choice that is able to explain gender differences in the willingness to reduce car use. By means of a survey among 187 inhabitants of a German city, the hypothesis is tested that women are more willing to reduce car use (intention to reduce car use, preference for public transport, and actual travel mode choice for a given trip) because of their stronger ecological norms and weaker car habits. Results confirm women's greater willingness and the mediating role of norm and habit in the intention to reduce car use and in the actual travel mode choice but not with regard to the preference rating. The intention to reduce car use is mainly influenced by the ecological norm, whereas actual travel behavior is more strongly influenced by habit.

Dopaminergic transmission and receptor sensitivity influence the severity of symptoms during early alcoholic withdrawal in both unmedicated and chlomethiazole-treated alcoholics. Similarly, central and peripheral dopamine levels increase during the first week of abstinence. Similarity between the dopamine plasma levels and receptor sensitivity in healthy controls and alcoholics suggests that withdrawal symptoms are independent of these two variables.

Introduction. The long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZD) and z-drugs in older populations is associated with a variety of sociodemographic and health-related factors. Recent studies reported that long-term BZD and z-drugs use is associated with increased age, female sex, and severe negative psychological (e.g., depression) and somatic (e.g., chronic disease) factors. The current study explores the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with long-term BZD and z-drugs use in the elderly. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among randomly selected patients of one health insurance plan (“AOK North-West”) with BZD and z-drugs prescriptions in the past 12 months. The sample was stratified by appropriate German prescription guidelines (yes vs. no) and age (50–65 vs. >65 years). To examine the association of selected sociodemographic and psychological variables (e.g., sex, employment status, quality of life, depression) with long-term use, a binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results. In total, data from 340 patients were analyzed. The mean age was 72.1 (SD = 14.5) years, and the most commonly used substances were zopiclon (38.1%), oxazepam (18.1%), and lorazepam (13.8%). The mean defined daily dose (DDD) was 0.73 (SD = 0.47). Insomnia was the main reason for prescribing BZD and z-drugs. The long-term use of BZD and z-drugs was significantly associated with unemployment (OR = 2.9, 95% CI [1.2–7.1]) and generally problematic medication use (OR = 0.5, 95% CI [0.2–1.0]). Discussion. Unemployment status and problematic medication use had a significant association with the patient-reported, long-term use of BZD and z-drugs. Divergent prescription patterns might suggest problematic patterns of BZD and z-drugs use. The causal connection between the identified factors and problematic BZD and z-drugs prescription is not discussed in this paper. Nevertheless, employment status and possible evidence of general problematic drug use may be a warning signal to the prescribers of BZD and z-drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]