SY32-3 * PERSONALITY TRAITS, CRAVING AND GENETIC ASSOCIATIONS IN ALCOHOLIC IN-PATIENTS

Abstract

This study explored the characteristics of in-patient alcoholics in terms of personality and negative emotions (stress, depression and anxiety), as well as the association of these characteristics with alcohol-use history, craving, hormones, and gene polymorphisms to identify factors predictive of early relapse. Alcohol-dependent subjects (n = 193; 60% male) were recruited during a 5-day in-patient detoxification. Depressive and anxiety tendencies, life stresses, alcohol craving (global and state) and personality traits were assessed. Fasting saliva and blood were taken for cortisol and plasma leptin and ghrelin levels and genotyping. Cluster analysis identified three distinct profile groups that differed significantly on alcohol consumption, craving and the maintenance of abstinence. The personality profiles of the age-of-onset groups also differed significantly. The three profiles did not differ in their stress level but were significantly different in K10 scores and length of maintenance of abstinence. There was a significant negative correlation between ghrelin and craving. In female subjects, logistic regression showed that ANNK1 Taq1A, RGS4 SNP7, and COMT rs4646316 were associated with earlier heavy-drinking onset. This study showed the variability of alcoholic patients in terms of personality, craving levels and gene profile, thus providing insights for personal treatment design that could maximize patients' acceptance and responsivity.