Valeria Tretyak1, Dylan E Kirsch2, Sepeadeh Radpour3, Wade A Weber3, Kim Fromme4, Stephen M Strakowski5, Elizabeth T C Lippard6. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; Institute of Early Life Adversity Research, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address: elizabeth.lippard@austin.utexas.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in bipolar disorder, however the developmental etiology of this comorbidity remains unknown. Structural differences in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) have been linked to problematic drinking in bipolar disorder and typically developing youth, with evidence implicating variations in OFC in differential subjective response to alcohol in typical development. METHODS: Subjective response to alcohol, recent alcohol use, impulsivity, and variation in OFC gray matter volume were investigated in 48 emerging adults (24 with bipolar disorder, 24 typically developing). On average 1.5 years later, drinking patterns were reassessed and relations between subjective response and changes in alcohol use were explored. RESULTS: Groups did not differ in baseline alcohol use or subjective response. At baseline, decreased subjective response to alcohol was associated with increased alcohol use in both groups. Lower gray matter volume in medial OFC in bipolar disorder was associated with increased subjective response to alcohol, whereas lower gray matter volume in OFC in typically developing participants was associated with decreased subjective response to alcohol. Increase in alcohol use (baseline to follow-up) was associated with increased baseline subjective response to alcohol in bipolar disorder, and decreased baseline subjective response in the typically developing group. LIMITATIONS: Preliminary study with a small sample size. CONCLUSION: Underlying OFC biology may contribute to differences in alcohol sensitivity in bipolar disorder which may also relate to prospective changes in alcohol use patterns. Future studies are needed to examine how these factors prospectively relate to development of AUDs in bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND: Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in bipolar disorder, however the developmental etiology of this comorbidity remains unknown. Structural differences in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) have been linked to problematic drinking in bipolar disorder and typically developing youth, with evidence implicating variations in OFC in differential subjective response to alcohol in typical development. METHODS: Subjective response to alcohol, recent alcohol use, impulsivity, and variation in OFC gray matter volume were investigated in 48 emerging adults (24 with bipolar disorder, 24 typically developing). On average 1.5 years later, drinking patterns were reassessed and relations between subjective response and changes in alcohol use were explored. RESULTS: Groups did not differ in baseline alcohol use or subjective response. At baseline, decreased subjective response to alcohol was associated with increased alcohol use in both groups. Lower gray matter volume in medial OFC in bipolar disorder was associated with increased subjective response to alcohol, whereas lower gray matter volume in OFC in typically developing participants was associated with decreased subjective response to alcohol. Increase in alcohol use (baseline to follow-up) was associated with increased baseline subjective response to alcohol in bipolar disorder, and decreased baseline subjective response in the typically developing group. LIMITATIONS: Preliminary study with a small sample size. CONCLUSION: Underlying OFC biology may contribute to differences in alcohol sensitivity in bipolar disorder which may also relate to prospective changes in alcohol use patterns. Future studies are needed to examine how these factors prospectively relate to development of AUDs in bipolar disorder.
Authors: Elizabeth T C Lippard; Carolyn M Mazure; Jennifer A Y Johnston; Linda Spencer; Judah Weathers; Brian Pittman; Fei Wang; Hilary P Blumberg Journal: J Neurosci Res Date: 2017-01-02 Impact factor: 4.164