Family History Positive Subjects Research Articles

Alcoholism and family history of alcoholism: Effects on visual and auditory event-related potentials

In a dual-modality paradigm, visual and auditory event-related potentials were elicited in 40 alcoholic men and 30 controls, equated with the alcoholics on age and education. Half of each group had first-degree relatives who were alcoholic (family history positive). The amplitude of the visual N1 component was reduced among the alcoholics, but their auditory N1 amplitudes were normal. Average N1 amplitudes were also smaller in the family history positive subjects but this effect was significant only for auditory stimuli. Alcoholics showed reduced average P3 amplitudes to both visual and auditory signals, particularly in the family history positive group. Clearly, stratification by family history is useful for ascertainment of ERP variation among alcoholics. There were no effects on P3 latency. Among several possible explanations of P3 deficits in alcoholics, two are particularly interesting: (1) alcoholics cannot mobilize sufficient processing resources in the service of effortful cognitive functions; (2) alcoholics, being poorly motivated, apply insufficient effort to cognitive tasks. An experiment designed to test these hypotheses is described.

Relationship of family history of alcoholism to patterns of drinking and physical dependence in male alcoholics

The occurrence of physical dependence, morning drinking and binge drinking was assessed in alcoholic men in relation to family history of problem drinking. The incidence of physical dependence, binge drinking and morning drinking was higher in men with a family history of problem drinking than in men without such a history. Physical dependence also developed earlier in family history positive subjects than in family history negative ones. The incidence of physical dependence was higher in subjects who reported binge drinking or morning drinking than in others. These results indicate that family history of problem drinking is associated with severe alcohol abuse resulting in early development of physical dependence.