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Longitudinal Modeling of the Association Between Transmissible Risk, Affect During Drug Use and Development of
Ralph E Tarter1, Levent Kirisci, Maureen Reynolds
1University of Pittsburgh (R.E.T., L.K., M.R., Z.Z., I.G., M.V.), School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA; and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (M.H.), Pittsburgh, PA.
Journal of Addiction Medicine
|October 7, 2015
Summary
Drug consumption frequency mediates the link between inherited substance use disorder (SUD) risk and adult SUD diagnosis. Affective states during drug use did not mediate this relationship, though they correlated with consumption frequency.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Substance use disorder (SUD) has a significant heritable component.
- Understanding the mechanisms linking genetic predisposition to adult SUD is crucial for prevention and treatment.
- Childhood and adolescent risk factors for SUD require longitudinal investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if subjective drug experiences mediate the association between childhood transmissible risk and adult SUD.
- To examine the role of affective states in the development of SUD.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 483 boys aged 10-12 at baseline.
- Transmissible Liability Index (TLI) administered across adolescence.
- Assessed drug consumption frequency, affective states, and SUD diagnosis at age 22.
Main Results:
- Drug consumption frequency mediated the link between transmissible risk and adult SUD.
- Negative affect on drug-free days predicted drug consumption frequency.
- Negative affect during drug use also correlated with consumption frequency.
- Affective states did not mediate the transmissible risk-SUD association.
Conclusions:
- While affective states covary with drug consumption, they do not mediate the relationship between inherited SUD risk and adult SUD diagnosis.
- Drug consumption frequency is a key mediator in the pathway from genetic predisposition to SUD.
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