Individual differences in anticipation of alcohol sensitivity

Anticipations of the effect produced by a given amount of alcohol may be as important as actual responses to that amount of alcohol in determining patterns of alcohol use, yet previous research has focused only on physiological response and subjective reports of sensitivity upon administration of alcohol. In this study, the etiology of individual differences in reports of anticipated sensitivity was examined using a sample of 54 pairs of twins and adoptees for whom both members of each pair had consumed two drinks per hour for 2 hours at some time during the year before the study. Genetic influence was suggested for anticipated sensitivity to physical symptoms and coordination but not for other symptoms such as thinking problems, mood, or driving ability. The environmental influences responsible for individual differences in anticipated sensitivity are largely shared by family members, as indicated by the substantial resemblance for pairs of adoptees reared in the same family. Also explored was the correlation between anticipated sensitivity to alcohol and reported recent drinking behavior. In this sample (N = 204) it was found that an anticipation of less sensitivity related to a higher reported average number of drinks consumed per drinking session, independent of weight, sex, or age differences.