Male alcoholic subjects were asked to rate their own typical dysphoric mood states soon after admission for alcohol detoxification and again following 2 weeks of recovery from alcohol abuse. Self-ratings of typical dysphoric mood decreased following 2 weeks of recovery from alcohol abuse while self-ratings of typical impulsive behaviors remained unchanged. Within subjects, the magnitude of change in ratings of typical dysphoric mood during the first 2 weeks of recovery from alcohol abuse correlated highly with the level of typical dysphoric mood measured at the onset of alcohol treatment.