OR02-4 * MODEL OF ALCOHOLICS WITH INACTIVE ALDH2: IDENTIFYING PERSONALITY RISK FACTORS FOR ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS

Abstract

Individuals with inactive aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) show adverse reactions after ethanol intake, which is known to suppress the occurrence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), nonetheless, some individuals with inactive ALDH2 do become alcoholics. It has been suggested that these individuals may carry factors facilitating the development of AUDs. In this series of studies, we attempted to identify the risk factors for AUDs, and to replicate the validity of existing factors, using the unique characteristics of alcoholics with inactive ALDH2 or the AIA model. The subjects were hospitalized male alcoholics with inactive ALDH2 (N = 91), male alcoholics with active ALDH2 (N= 81), and 201 age-matched healthy males. To examine the risk factors, we assessed the psychological characteristics of the study participants, and compared the results among the three groups. Among 15 known self-reported questionnaires, we employed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) for this study. TCI is a 230-item self-reporting questionnaire used to assess the following four temperament dimensions: Harm avoidance (HA), Novelty seeking (NS), Reward dependence (RD), and Persistence (P); in addition, it is also useful to measure the following three character dimensions: Self-directedness (SD), Cooperativeness (C), and self-transcendence (ST). The score for HA was higher, while the scores for P, SD and C were lower in the alcoholics than in the control subjects. These results suggest that these personality characteristics may play a role in facilitating the development of AUDs.