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Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
Published on: January 7, 2019
Additive independent factors that predict risk for alcoholism
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06032.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP), male gender, and family history of alcoholism (FHA) significantly predict lifetime alcoholism risk. These factors, with independent genetic vulnerabilities, increase risk additively in young adults.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Genetic heterogeneity is a recognized model for alcoholism.
- Previous studies indicated additive risk for alcoholism with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP), male gender, and family history of alcoholism (FHA).
- These risk factors possess distinct genetic transmission pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively assess the predictive strength of ASP, male gender, and FHA on lifetime alcoholism diagnosis in young adults.
- To investigate the additive and independent contributions of these risk factors to alcoholism development.
- To validate genetic heterogeneity models of alcoholism in a young, untreated population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort of untreated young males and females (offspring of alcoholic and non-alcoholic parents) was recruited.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) diagnoses for alcohol or drug abuse/dependence were assessed using the NIMH-Diagnostic Interview Schedule.
- Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP) was diagnosed excluding alcohol- or drug-related behaviors; parental alcoholism was assessed using Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria.
Main Results:
- Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASP) diagnosis, male gender, and family history of alcoholism (FHA) were significant predictors of DSM-III alcoholism.
- ASP demonstrated the strongest predictive power (3 times risk increase), followed by male gender (1.5 times) and FHA (1.5 times).
- Log linear analysis confirmed the significant predictive contribution of each variable and the overall model's goodness of fit.
Conclusions:
- Male gender, ASP, and FHA are significant, independent, and additive predictors of lifetime alcoholism in young adults.
- These findings support the genetic heterogeneity model of alcoholism, highlighting distinct genetic vulnerabilities contributing to increased risk.
- Early identification of these risk factors may aid in targeted prevention strategies for alcoholism.
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