BACKGROUND: Alcohol misuse is more common in persons with a family history of alcoholism (FH+) than in those with no such history (FH-). Among FH+, behavioral disinhibition and male sex seem to signal the presence of an increased risk. METHODS: This study examined cognitive and behavioral characteristics of 175 nonabusing 18- to 30-year-olds, 87 FH+ and 88 FH-, who were further characterized by their degree of behavioral disinhibition using the Sociability scale of the California Personality Inventory. Working memory and decision making were tested using the Stroop Color-Word Test and the Iowa Gambling Task, a simulated card game. RESULTS: Persons with a family history of alcoholism who were behaviorally disinhibited displayed significantly greater interference on the Stroop task than the other subgroups. On the Iowa Gambling Task, FH+ males, but not the females, were significantly more attentive to financial gains than other subgroups, and they had greater consistency in their choice behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with a family history of alcoholism, in combination with behavioral disinhibition, appears to signal working memory deficits and in combination with male sex indicates an attraction to the rewarding aspects of a risk-taking challenge. These findings are not secondary to heavy exposure to alcohol or other drugs, but instead reflect intrinsic risk-related familial and personal characteristics of the subjects.
BACKGROUND:Alcohol misuse is more common in persons with a family history of alcoholism (FH+) than in those with no such history (FH-). Among FH+, behavioral disinhibition and male sex seem to signal the presence of an increased risk. METHODS: This study examined cognitive and behavioral characteristics of 175 nonabusing 18- to 30-year-olds, 87 FH+ and 88 FH-, who were further characterized by their degree of behavioral disinhibition using the Sociability scale of the California Personality Inventory. Working memory and decision making were tested using the Stroop Color-Word Test and the Iowa Gambling Task, a simulated card game. RESULTS:Persons with a family history of alcoholism who were behaviorally disinhibited displayed significantly greater interference on the Stroop task than the other subgroups. On the Iowa Gambling Task, FH+ males, but not the females, were significantly more attentive to financial gains than other subgroups, and they had greater consistency in their choice behaviors. CONCLUSIONS:Persons with a family history of alcoholism, in combination with behavioral disinhibition, appears to signal working memory deficits and in combination with male sex indicates an attraction to the rewarding aspects of a risk-taking challenge. These findings are not secondary to heavy exposure to alcohol or other drugs, but instead reflect intrinsic risk-related familial and personal characteristics of the subjects.
Authors: Melissa M Andrews; Shashwath A Meda; Andre D Thomas; Marc N Potenza; John H Krystal; Patrick Worhunsky; Michael C Stevens; Stephanie O'Malley; Gregory A Book; Brady Reynolds; Godfrey D Pearlson Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2010-12-03 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Buddy Saunders; Noha Farag; Andrea S Vincent; Frank L Collins; Kristen H Sorocco; William R Lovallo Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2008-03-27 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Donald M Dougherty; Sarah L Lake; Charles W Mathias; Stacy R Ryan; Bethany C Bray; Nora E Charles; Ashley Acheson Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2015-07-14 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Ashley Acheson; Crystal Franklin; Andrew J Cohoon; David C Glahn; Peter T Fox; William R Lovallo Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2014-05-21 Impact factor: 3.455