Excutive Cognitive Functioning, Negative Affectivity, and Drug Use in Adolescent Boys With and Without a Family History of a Substance Use Disorder

Abstract

SUMMARY This study examined the association between executive cognitive functioning (ECF), negative affectivity (NA) and drug use in adolescent males. Subjects were 250 boys, ages 15–17 years, with (FH+ n = 90) and without (FH− n = 160) a family history of a substance use disorder (SUD). The subjects in these two groups are respectively at high average risk (HAR) and low average risk (LAR) for SUD. ECF was measured using a battery of neuropsychological tests; NA was measured using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire. Drug use frequency and problems were measured using the Drug Use Screening Inventory. The HAR group had lower ECF scores and higher NA scores than the LAR group. Low ECF and high NA were significantly correlated. Family history moderated the relation between ECF and drug use frequency and problems. Tins family moderation effect was not observed for NA. The implications of these findings for elucidating the neurobiological substrate underlying SUD liability are discussed.