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Genetic effects on alcohol consumption patterns and problems in women
A C Heath1, W S Slutske, P A Madden
1Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, USA.
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire). Supplement
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Genetic factors significantly influence alcoholism risk in both men and women. Alcohol consumption patterns, not just personality, appear to be a key inherited risk factor for developing alcohol use disorder.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Genetics
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Genetic factors are recognized contributors to alcoholism etiology in both genders.
- Personality traits and alcohol sensitivity are known mediators of genetic influence, with similar heritability in men and women.
- Genetically determined alcohol consumption patterns are understudied mechanisms of alcoholism inheritance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of genetic factors in alcoholism etiology, focusing on mediating factors like personality and alcohol consumption.
- To re-examine the mediating roles of personality and alcohol consumption variables in alcoholism inheritance using twin data.
- To explore genetic effects on alcoholism risk mediated through consumption patterns independent of personality differences.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 1992-3 Australian Twin Panel survey (N = 5995).
- Employed a co-twin control design comparing non-alcoholic co-twins of alcoholic twins and twins from concordant unaffected pairs (monozygotic and dizygotic).
- Assessed personality and alcohol consumption to avoid contamination by alcoholism history.
Main Results:
- In monozygotic twin pairs, both co-twin's heavy alcohol exposure (≥5 drinks/day) and high Novelty Seeking scores predicted respondent alcoholism in both genders.
- The predictive effect of co-twin's heavy alcohol exposure remained significant even after controlling for respondent's personality variables.
- Findings suggest genetic influences on alcoholism risk mediated by consumption patterns are independent of those mediated by personality.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a substantial role in alcoholism etiology for both men and women.
- Alcohol consumption patterns represent a significant, genetically influenced risk factor for alcoholism, independent of personality traits.
- Understanding these genetic pathways is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder.