Risk For Alcohol Use Problems Research Articles

The Influence of Family Experience and Environment on Alcohol Use in Patients with Mental Disorders

Background: environmental influences on alcohol use in patients with mental disorders have received little research, although they may be another determinant of alcohol use beyond illness. The aim was to study the influence of family traditions and social environment on alcohol consumption by patients with mental disorders. Patients: 106 patients with various mental disorders who received treatment in inpatient and outpatient settings. Methods: patient information was received from the medical record and interviews using questionnaire “Alcohol use: experience, pattern, treatment” and scales: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser Scale (UKU), Drug Attitude Inventory-10 (DAI-10). Results: the proportion of patients with high risk for alcohol use problems was 21% of all patients. Patients with a high level of risk differed in the style of drinking alcohol in the parental family: their parents drank alcohol more often. These patients also had their first experience of drinking alcohol in their parental family. There were more people who drank alcohol in large quantities in the past environment of such patients. Although high-risk patients had changed their current environment, they were still more likely to make situational alcohol choices, use it more often to cope with difficulties, and appeared to use previously established drinking styles. All high- risk patients began drinking alcohol before the onset of the disease. Conclusions: patients with a high risk of problems with alcohol use are more likely to have learned their drinking style from their parents, and they are more likely to drink alcohol under the influence of the situation. However, one third of patients were able to reduce their alcohol consumption during illness.

Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic use – UniHcos project

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prevalence rates and self-reported changes in patterns of alcohol use among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic alcohol use. A serial cross-sectional study based on the uniHcos project was carried out. Data from 10 518 first-year university students (73.3% female, mean age 19 (SD = 1.6)) collected between 2012 and 2022 were analysed. The evolution of the pooled prevalence rates during the time series was analysed and the risk of problematic alcohol consumption was assessed using the AUDIT. Also, self-reported changes in alcohol use patterns during the pandemic were assessed. According to the results, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of alcohol use in the past 30-days was reduced (76.3% in 2019 vs. 63.7% in COVID-19) increasing again in the New Normal period. Thus, a similar pattern in the practice of binge drinking was observed. Regarding the AUDIT score, 21.7% (95%CI 20.9, 22.6) of the students had harmful alcohol consumption, with a higher proportion among males. In the multivariable logistic models, a higher AUDIT score was significantly associated (p-value < 0.001) with being male and living with roommates. According to self-reported changes in consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher proportion of participants with harmful use reported an increase in alcohol consumption compared to those at low-risk (43% vs 19%). Finally, despite the overall reduction in drinking prevalence during COVID-19, changes were not equal for all students and depended on their previous level of problematic drinking, highlighting that this should be considered in the development of strategies against alcohol use in this population.

Examining interactions between polygenic scores and interpersonal trauma exposure on alcohol consumption and use disorder in an ancestrally diverse college cohort.

Introduction: Genetic factors impact alcohol consumption and use disorder (AUD), with large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identifying numerous associated variants. Aggregate genetic methods in combination with important environmental factors (e.g., interpersonal trauma [IPT]) can be applied to expand our understanding of the ways by which genetic and environmental variables work together to influence alcohol consumption and disordered use. The present study aimed to detail the relationships between genome-wide polygenic scores (PGS) for alcohol phenotypes (i.e., alcohol consumption and AUD status) and IPT exposure as well as the interaction between them across ancestry. Methods: Data were drawn from the Spit for Science (S4S) study, a US college student population, where participants reported on IPT exposure prior to college and alcohol consumption and problems during college (N = 9,006; ancestry: 21.3% African [AFR], 12.5% Admixed Americas [AMR], 9.6% East Asian [EAS], 48.1% European [EUR], 8.6% South Asian [SAS]). Two trans-ancestry PGS were constructed, one for alcohol consumption and another for AUD, using large-scale GWAS summary statistics from multiple ancestries weighted using PRS-CSx. Regression models were applied to test for the presence of associations between alcohol-PGS and IPT main and interaction effects. Results: In the meta-analysis across ancestry groups, IPT exposure and PGS were significantly associated with alcohol consumption (βIPT = 0.31, P IPT = 0.0002; βPGS = 0.09, P PGS = 0.004) and AUD (ORIPT = 1.12, P IPT = 3.5 × 10-8; ORPGS = 1.02, P PGS = 0.002). No statistically significant interactions were detected between IPT and sex nor between IPT and PGS. When inspecting ancestry specific results, the alcohol consumption-PGS and AUD-PGS were only statistically significant in the EUR ancestry group (βPGS = 0.09, P PGS = 0.04; ORPGS = 1.02, P PGS = 0.022, respectively). Discussion: IPT exposure prior to college was strongly associated with alcohol outcomes in this college-age sample, which could be used as a preventative measure to identify students at high risk for problematic alcohol use. Additionally, results add to developing evidence of polygenic score association in meta-analyzed samples, highlighting the importance of continued efforts to increase ancestral representation in genetic studies and inclusive analytic approaches to increase the generalizability of results from genetic association studies.

The role of anhedonia in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), alcohol use disorder symptoms, and food addiction symptoms in a sample of emerging adults with histories of heavy drinking.

Previous research has shown that (ACEs) are associated with negative health outcomes, including depression, problematic alcohol use, and disordered patterns of overeating, including food addiction (FA). Moreover, anhedonia, or an inability to feel pleasure, has been also shown to increase risk for problematic alcohol use, as well as FA. It is possible that anhedonia may be implicated in health risk behaviors as individuals with anhedonia may seek out highly hedonic activities. The purpose of the present study was to explore the direct and indirect relationship between ACEs and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and FA symptoms via anhedonia in a diverse sample of emerging adults with histories of heavy drinking. A cross-sectional, quantitative design was used. The sample was 42.6% male, 45.5% White, and 39.9% Black, and the average age of participants was 22.64 (SD = 1.01). A confirmatory factor analysis was used to specify the model, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The initial measurement model was overidentified and demonstrated acceptable to favorable fit. Standardized results from a bootstrap analysis of the structural regression model showed significant direct effects of ACEs on FA and AUD symptoms. Results also found a significant indirect effect of ACEs on AUD symptoms through anhedonia, though this indirect effect was not significant for FA. Anhedonia could be a key target for the prevention and treatment of problematic alcohol use. Future research should examine the role of anhedonia in the maintenance of FA in nonheavy drinking samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations between Drinking Contexts, Minority Stress, and Problematic Alcohol Use among Sexual Minority Individuals Assigned Female at Birth.

Sexual minority individuals assigned female at birth (SM-AFAB) are at increased risk for problematic alcohol use compared to heterosexual women. Despite evidence that drinking locations and companions play an important role in problematic alcohol use among heterosexuals, few studies have examined these social contexts of alcohol use among SM-AFAB. To address this gap, the current study examined two aspects of social contexts in which SM-AFAB drink (locations and companions). We utilized two waves of data (six-months between waves) from an analytic sample of 392 SM-AFAB ages 17-33 from a larger longitudinal study. The goals were: (1) to identify classes of SM-AFAB based on the contexts in which they drank; (2) to examine the associations between drinking contexts, minority stressors, and problematic alcohol use; and (3) to examine changes in drinking contexts over time. Using latent class analysis, we identified four classes based on drinking locations and companions (private settings, social settings, social and private settings, multiple settings). These classes did not differ in minority stress. Drinking in multiple settings was associated with more problematic alcohol use within the same timepoint and these differences were maintained six months later. However, drinking in multiple settings did not predict subsequent changes in problematic alcohol use when problematic alcohol use at the prior wave was controlled for. Based on these findings, SM-AFAB who drink in multiple settings may be an important subpopulation for interventions to target. Interventions could focus on teaching SM-AFAB strategies to limit alcohol consumption and/or minimize alcohol-related consequences.

158. Early Life Stress, Recent Perceived Stress, and Acute Neural Response to Stress in Youth With Bipolar Disorder: Stress Sensitization of Anterior-Paralimbic Systems and Related Risk for Problematic Alcohol Use and Suicide

158. Early Life Stress, Recent Perceived Stress, and Acute Neural Response to Stress in Youth With Bipolar Disorder: Stress Sensitization of Anterior-Paralimbic Systems and Related Risk for Problematic Alcohol Use and Suicide

From if-then to here and now: Using personalized counterfactuals from past negative experiences to reduce future alcohol consequences.

College students are at an increased risk for problematic alcohol use. To address this health concern, several interventions have used protective behavioral strategies (PBS). However, interventions promoting PBS remain underdeveloped and underutilized. Counterfactual thinking is a type of postmortem cognitive strategy that highlights causal links between a behavior and a negative outcome. Recent research demonstrates the effectiveness of applying counterfactuals for increasing PBS use intentions. The present study examines the effect of a brief counterfactual-based intervention for increasing PBS use and decreasing adverse alcohol outcomes. Undergraduate students (n = 73) completed an online multiweek (baseline and five weekly follow-ups) intervention. At baseline, participants completed demographics, PBS use, and alcohol use and consequences. They were then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: a control (negative event only), sham (negative event with detailed description), or counterfactual (If only … then …) condition. At weekly follow-up sessions, participants completed PBS use and alcohol use and consequences from the previous week. The counterfactual condition was presented with their counterfactuals generated at baseline. Relative to the active control, the counterfactual condition reported greater use of PBS across the five-week follow-ups. This in turn resulted in decreases in alcohol consumed and alcohol-related consequences. This study highlights the effectiveness of counterfactual thinking as a relevant harm-reduction strategy for alcohol-related outcomes in college students. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Dimensions of binegativity differentially predict drinking to cope motivations and alcohol use severity among bisexual women.

Research indicates that bisexual women experience greater stigmatization and discrimination compared to lesbian women. Such oppression is described as binegativity and is associated with alcohol use among bisexual women. Specifically, previous research has suggested that bisexual women may drink to cope in an effort to self-medicate from experiences of binegativity. Although substantial research has been conducted with regard to drinking behaviors among at-risk groups, research has yet to identify which specific types of binegativity may be most predictive of drinking outcomes among bisexual women. Consequently, the present study sought to examine the predictive utility of three dimensions of binegativity: (a) sexual orientation instability (e.g., the perception of bisexuality as an illegitimate sexual orientation), (b) sexual irresponsibility (e.g., the stereotype that bisexual persons are oversexualized or sexually promiscuous), and (c) interpersonal hostility (e.g., the alienation and uncomfortability with bisexual identification), on drinking to cope motivations and alcohol use severity. Participants were 225 self-identified bisexual women between the ages of 18 and 30 years (Mean = 22.77, SD = 3.45) who participated in a larger study about health behaviors among bisexual women. Multiple regressions revealed that, compared to other binegativity dimensions, sexual irresponsibility was the strongest predictor of typical alcohol use, drinking to cope motivations, and alcohol use severity. Thus, bisexual women who are stereotyped to be sexually promiscuous are at particular risk for problematic alcohol use. Prevention and intervention efforts should target stress associated with experiences of oversexualized stigmatizations, in an effort to reduce alcohol-related risk among bisexual women. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A cluster analysis of mothers of reproductive age based on their attitude and risk of alcohol use.

The rates of alcohol use and binge drinking are increasing among women. To examine factors that can differentiate women with low-risk alcohol use from those with high-risk alcohol use, the present study explored whether there would be distinct subgroups of mothers who differed in their attitudes and risk of alcohol use. A sample of 141 women aged between 18 and 50 years old who had given birth within 3 years was recruited on Amazon Mechanical Turk. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the mothers based on the similarities between their attitudes and risk of alcohol use, which resulted in the identification of the following distinct subgroups: (a) mothers with negative attitudes toward alcohol use and low risk for problematic alcohol use, (b) mothers with positive attitudes and low risk, and (c) mothers with positive attitudes and high risk. These subgroups of mothers were then compared on the extent to which they differed in trait impulsivity and impulsive decision-making toward instant gratification. The results showed that the subgroups significantly differed in trait impulsivity but not in impulsive decision-making toward instant gratification. The present study demonstrated the usefulness of cluster analysis for profiling distinct, practically meaningful subgroups of mothers of reproductive age based on their attitudes and risk of alcohol use, which has important implications for developing intervention strategies for problematic alcohol use in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Sex differences in the relation between military sexual trauma and risk for alcohol misuse among U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard soldiers.

Military sexual trauma (MST) is linked to a range of deleterious health outcomes. Extant literature has focused disproportionately on mental health sequelae of MST. Research is needed to better understand the extent to which MST contributes to alcohol misuse and related problems - key issues facing service members. Additionally, sex differences in the nature and prevalence of MST may impact sequelae. The present research examined (a) the prevalence of an MST history among female and male service members, (b) relations between MST history and risk for alcohol misuse and related problems, and (c) potential sex differences in these experiences and outcomes. Data from current and previous service members (334 males and 70 females) were drawn from Operation: SAFETY (Soldiers and Families Excelling Through the Years), a longitudinal study of U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard (USAR/NG) soldiers and their partners. Analyses examined the prevalence and types of MST experienced, relations between MST history and three alcohol-related variables (total consumption, heavy drinking frequency, and alcohol-related problems), and differences by sex. Approximately one-third (33.7%) of service members reported an MST history. Females (61.4%) reported an MST history at more than twice the rate of males (27.8%). Interactions between MST and sex were significant for all alcohol-related variables. Among males, an MST history was related to 70% higher alcohol consumption, 86% higher heavy drinking frequency, and 45% higher alcohol problem scores. An MST history was unrelated to alcohol-related variables among females. Findings suggest a higher prevalence of MST among USAR/NG service members than is often reported in the literature, particularly among males. An MST history was associated with higher and more hazardous/harmful current alcohol consumption among male service members, highlighting the need for greater screening, prevention, and intervention among a population already at high risk for problematic alcohol use. Results underscore that MST is an important and prevalent experience requiring greater study alongside more traditional notions of service-connected trauma.

High-mind wandering correlates with high risk for problematic alcohol use in China and Germany.

Everyone experiences the natural ebb and flow of task-unrelated thoughts. Given how common the fluctuations in these thoughts are, surprisingly, we know very little about how they shape individuals' responses to alcohol use. Here, we investigated if mind wandering is associated with a risk of developing problematic alcohol use. We undertook an online survey among the general population in China (N = 1123) and Germany (N = 1018) from December 2021 to February 2022 and examined the subjective experience of mind wandering and problematic alcohol use through the Mind Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ) and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). We compared mind wandering and problematic alcohol use between two countries and investigated the association between MWQ scores with AUDIT scores. We found higher scores on the MWQ and a high percentage of problematic alcohol use (i.e., AUDIT score ≥ 8) in Germany (22.5%) as compared to in China (14.5%). Higher self-reported mind wandering was associated with higher AUDIT scores. AUDIT scores were increased mostly in male, elder, and high-mind wandering people. Our findings highlight that mind wandering and problematic alcohol use enhanced in Germany as compared to in China. Our study sheds light on the relationship between mind wandering and problematic alcohol use that may help to further investigate causal effects of interventions.

Characterizing Alcohol Expectancies in the ABCD Study: Associations with Sociodemographic Factors, the Immediate Social Environment, and Genetic Propensities.

Alcohol expectancies (AEs) are associated with likelihood of alcohol initiation and subsequent alcohol use disorders. It is unclear whether genetic predisposition to alcohol use and/or related traits contributes to shaping how one expects to feel when drinking alcohol. We used the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study to examine associations between genetic propensities (i.e., polygenic risk for problematic alcohol use, depression, risk-taking), sociodemographic factors (i.e., parent income), and the immediate social environment (i.e., peer use and disapproval toward alcohol) and positive and negative AEs in alcohol-naïve children (max analytic N = 5,352). Mixed-effect regression models showed that age, parental education, importance of the child's religious beliefs, adverse childhood experiences, and peer disapproval of alcohol use were associated with positive and/or negative AEs, to varying degrees. Overall, our results suggest several familial and psychosocial predictors of AEs but little evidence of contributions from polygenic liability to problematic alcohol use or related phenotypes.

Risk for alcohol use problems in severe mental illness: Interactions with sex and racial/ethnic minority status

BackgroundAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is exceedingly common among individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, studies on alcohol use in psychiatric illness rely largely on population surveys with limited representation of severe mental illness (SMI); schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. MethodsUsing data from the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort (GPC) (Pato MT, 2013), associations of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with alcohol use problems were examined in a diverse US based sample, considering the influence of self-described race (African Ancestry (AA), European Ancestry (EA), or Latinx Ancestry (LA)), sex, and tobacco use. Participants answered alcohol use problem items derived from the CAGE instrument, yielding a summed “probable” alcohol use disorder (pAUD) risk score. ResultsThis study included 1952 individuals with bipolar disorder with psychosis (BDwP), 409 with bipolar disorder without psychosis (BD), 9218 with schizophrenia (SCZ), and 10,416 unaffected individuals. We found that SMI (BDwP, BD, SCZ) was associated with elevated AUD risk scores (B = 0.223, p < 0.001), an association which was strongest in females, particularly those of AA and LA, and in tobacco users. Schizophrenia was associated with the greatest increase in pAUD score (B = 0.141, p < 0.001). pAUD risk scores were increased among participants with bipolar disorder, with greater increases in BDwP (B = 0.125, p < 0.001) than in BD without psychosis (B = 0.027, p < 0.001). LimitationsLimitations include reliance on self-report data, screening items for AUD, voluntary recruitment bias, and differences in race/sex distribution between groups, which were statistically adjusted for in analytic models. ConclusionsSMI is associated with risk for AUD, particularly among females from racial minority groups, smokers, and those with psychotic disorders.

Pain Intensity Moderates the Association between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Problematic Alcohol Use among Emerging Adults

Objective: Emerging adulthood is a vulnerable period for problematic alcohol use, defined by a pattern of use associated with physical and functional impairment. Obsessive-compulsive psychopathology, which demonstrates high rates of onset in emerging adults, seems to be related to problematic alcohol use in this age group, consistent with research among the general population suggesting an association between emotional disorders and alcohol use in the context of coping drinking motives. Pain intensity, another risk factor of problematic alcohol use, may link obsessive-compulsive symptoms to problematic alcohol use among emerging adults. Therefore, the current study examined the moderating role of pain intensity on the association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and problematic alcohol use among emerging adults. Methods: Participants were 198 college students (81.30% female, M age = 22.33, SD = 4.38) who reported problematic alcohol use. Results: Results from the current study supported a significant moderation role of pain intensity for the association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and problematic alcohol use, whereby the association between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and problematic alcohol use was stronger for emerging adults with high compared to low pain intensity. Conclusions: These results highlighted a clinically-relevant interaction between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and pain intensity concerning the risk of problematic alcohol use among emerging adults as a vulnerable population.

Sleep disturbance and problematic alcohol use: Examination of sex and race differences

ObjectivesDisrupted sleep is prevalent and related to problematic alcohol use. While sex and race disparities exist in both sleep disturbances and problematic alcohol use, whether the association between disrupted sleep and problematic alcohol use is similar across sex and race is unknown. The present study sought to examine sex and race invariance in the association between disrupted sleep and problematic alcohol use.MethodsSecondary analyses of baseline data from a randomized clinical trial targeting heavy drinking in primary care facilities. Participants completed four individual sleep questions (sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and sleep medication use), along with sex-specific measures of problematic alcohol use (i.e., CAGE and T-ACE). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the association between a latent sleep disturbance construct and problematic alcohol use, as well as potential sex and race invariance of this association.ResultsParticipants included 1,448 adults (76.59% female, 76.73% Black, Mage = 44.78, SD = 12.35). The majority of the sample reported one or more sleep disturbance symptoms and 31.84% of participants screened positive for problematic alcohol use. Greater sleep disturbance was significantly associated with a greater risk of problematic alcohol use (β = 0.18, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and did not differ by either sex or race.ConclusionsDisrupted sleep is associated with problematic alcohol use, across sex and race. Sleep interventions may hold promise as treatment augments in individuals with problematic alcohol use.

23.2 Problematic Alcohol Use in Adulthood As a Function of ADHD in Childhood, Parental Knowledge in Adolescence, and Impairment in Young Adulthood

Children with ADHD are at increased risk for alcohol-related problems in adulthood (Lee et al, 2011). Research examining this risk in adolescence and young adulthood has described mediational pathways through ADHD symptom persistence, delinquency, and social and academic impairment (Molina et al, 2012; 2014), with stronger associations when parents are less well informed about their teen’s daily activities. Whether these processes extend into adulthood is unknown. This study tested whether young adult functioning and ADHD symptom persistence continued to mediate ADHD-related risk for problematic alcohol use at age 30 years and whether parenting in adolescence exerted lasting effects.

Identification of Latent Alcohol Use Groups and Transitions over Time Using a 9-Year Follow-Up Study in the Adult General Population

Introduction: Studies investigating latent alcohol use groups and transitions of these groups over time are scarce, while such knowledge could facilitate efficient use of screening and preventive interventions for groups with a high risk of problematic alcohol use. Therefore, the present study examines the characteristics, transitions, and long-term stability of adult alcohol use groups and explores some of the possible predictors of the transitions. Methods: Data were used from the baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-year follow-up waves of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a representative study of Dutch adults aged 18–64 at baseline (N = 6,646; number of data points: 20,574). Alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and mental disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0. Latent Markov Modelling was used to identify latent groups based on high average alcohol consumption (HAAC) and AUD and to determine transition patterns of people between groups over time (stayers vs. movers). Results: The best fitting model resulted in four latent groups: one nonproblematic group (91%): no HAAC, no AUD; and three problematic alcohol use groups (9%): HAAC, no AUD (5%); no HAAC, often AUD (3%); and HAAC and AUD (1%). HAAC, no AUD was associated with a high mean age (55 years) and low educational level (41%), and no HAAC, often AUD with high proportions of males (78%) and people with high educational level (46%). Eighty-seven percent of all respondents – mostly people with no HAAC, no AUD – stayed in their original group during the whole 9-year period. Among movers, people in a problematic alcohol use group (HAAC and/or AUD) mostly transitioned to another problematic alcohol use group and not to the nonproblematic alcohol use group (no HAAC, no AUD). Explorative analyses suggested that lack of physical activity possibly plays a role in transitions both from and to problematic alcohol use groups over time. Conclusion: The detection of three problematic alcohol use groups – with transitions mostly between the different problematic alcohol use groups and not to the group without alcohol problems – points to the need to explicitly address both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems (AUD criteria) in screening measures and interventions in order not to miss and to adequately treat all problematic alcohol users. Moreover, explorative findings suggest that prevention measures should also include physical activity.

The cannabinoid receptor-1 gene interacts with stressful life events to increase the risk for problematic alcohol use

Problematic alcohol use is a major contributor to the global burden of death and disabilities, and it represents a public health concern that has grown substantially following the COVID-19 pandemic. The available treatment options remain limited and to develop better pharmacotherapies for alcohol misuse we need to identify suitable biological targets. Previous research has implicated the brain’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) in psychiatric and stress-related outcomes, including substance use and habituation to repeated stress. Moreover, genetic variants in the cannabinoid-1 receptor gene (CNR1; CB1R) have been associated with personality traits, which are in turn predictors of substance use disorders. To date, however, no human genome-wide association study has provided evidence for an involvement of the ECS in substance use outcomes. One reason for this ECS-related “missing heritability” may be unexamined gene-environment interactions. To explore this possibility, we conducted cross-sectional analyses using DNA samples and stress-exposure data from a longitudinal Swedish population-based study (N = 2,915). Specifically, we genotyped rs2023239, a functional C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in CNR1, previously reported to be associated with CNR1 binding in the brain, subjective reward following alcohol intake, and alcohol cue-elicited brain activation. Our two outcomes of interest were (i) problematic alcohol use based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and (ii) personality trait scores based on the Five Factor Model. We found no baseline association between rs2023239 and problematic alcohol use or personality traits. However, there was a clear trend for interaction between rs2023239’s risk allele (C) and stressful life events (SLEs) in both childhood and adulthood, which predicted problematic alcohol use. Although not significant, there was also some indication that the risk allele interacted with child SLEs to increase scores on neuroticism. Our study supports the notion that the ECS can affect alcohol intake behaviors by interacting with life adversities and is—to the best of our knowledge—the first to focus on the interaction between CNR1 and stressors in both childhood and adulthood in humans. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Hyperbolic discounting rates and risk for problematic alcohol use in youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study.

Adolescence is the peak period for the emergence of substance use, which can lead to long-term psychosocial, occupational and interpersonal complications. Ongoing large-scale, longitudinal, consortium initiatives, such as the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, offer unprecedented opportunities to elucidate key risk factors for problematic substance use in a well-powered sample and to examine how changes in risk factors relate to symptoms across time. Delay discounting has been proposed as a putative risk marker for early substance-use initiation and other forms of psychopathology. However, the extent to which other factors (e.g., socio-economic status and cognitive ability) influence discounting behaviour in young adolescents is not well established. The present study leverages data from the ABCD study (n = 11 045) to assess associations between core demographic and familial variables and delay discounting in youth-operationalized using hyperbolic discounting rates (k)-before the onset of significant psychopathology. Model estimates revealed significant effects of individual difference factors (e.g., sex and socio-economic status) and alcohol risk status (based on family history) on delay discounting. No significant differences were observed in the primary sample when comparing the presence of parent drug problems or prenatal drug exposures. These effects will require replication in later waves of ABCD. Nonetheless, these results provide support for delay discounting as a potential risk marker for problematic alcohol use and demonstrate a relationship between key demographic variables and adolescent discounting behaviour. Further, these results provide an empirical baseline from which developmental trajectories of delay discounting and substance use may be tracked throughout future waves of ABCD.

Large-scale brain network activation during emotional inhibitory control: Associations with alcohol misuse in college freshmen.

The transition to college is associated with increased risk of alcohol misuse and a consequent increase in negative, alcohol-related social and health impacts. Traits associated with ongoing brain maturation during this period, including impulsivity in emotional contexts, could contribute to risky alcohol use. This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study examined brain network activation strength during an emotional inhibitory control task (Go-NoGo), which required participants to ignore background images with negative or neutral emotional valence during performance. Participants were 60 college freshmen (aged 18-20years, 33 women). Survey measures, completed at baseline and one-year follow-up (follow-up n=52, 29 women), assessed alcohol misuse alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), alcohol/substance use counseling center assessment of psychological symptoms (C-CAPS), and negative consequences of alcohol use young adult alcohol consequences questionnaire (YAACQ). Measures were examined relative to network activation strength, on the Negative NoGo>Neutral NoGo contrast, of four large-scale brain networks implicated in top-down regulation of cognition and attention: right and left lateral frontoparietal networks (rL-FPN; lL-FPN), dorsal attention network (DAN), and salience network (SN). Activation strength of DAN was negatively associated with scores on the AUDIT (p=0.013) and YAACQ (p=0.004) at baseline, and with C-CAPS score at baseline and follow-up (p=0.002; p=0.005), and positively associated with accuracy on NoGo trials with negative backgrounds (p=0.014). Activation strength of rL-FPN was positively associated with C-CAPS score at follow-up (p=0.003). SN activation strength was negatively associated with accuracy on NoGo trials with negative (p<0.001) and neutral (p=0.002) backgrounds and with the accuracy difference between negative versus neutral NoGo trials (p=0.003). These findings suggest that less engagement of large-scale brain circuitry that supports top-down attentional control, specifically during negative emotions, is associated with more problematic drinking in emerging adults who attend college. This pattern of network activation may serve as a risk marker for ongoing self-regulation deficits during negative emotion that could increase risk of problematic alcohol use and negative impacts of drinking.