EEG dimension in sons of alcoholics

Recent advances in the field of nonlinear dynamics have provided new conceptual models, as well as novel analytical techniques applicable to studies in alcohol research. One measurement technique, which has been developed in an attempt to characterize nonlinear systems in physics and biology, is the estimation of attractor dimension. This dimension may be seen as a measure of the information required to describe the current behavior of a system. We have applied these techniques to the analysis of EEG collected from 17 men with alcoholic fathers and 19 men with no alcoholic relatives. The men with alcoholic fathers were found to have a lower EEG attractor dimension than their matched controls. This suggests that the EEG of young men with alcoholic fathers may be "more organized" or "less complex" than men with no alcoholic relatives. Although more studies will be needed to explore this hypothesis, these studies suggest that further development of nonlinear approaches to the analysis of brain systems are likely to generate new clinical measures, as well as new ways of viewing brain electrical function and alcoholism.     

An heuristic model for the inherited predisposition to alcoholism.

Presents a research program for studying individuals genetically at high risk for alcoholism. Data from multigenerational nonproblem-drinking sons of male alcoholics indicate that the sons display a pattern of autonomic hyperreactivity to a variety of stimuli. This pattern of reactivity is significantly dampened by high doses of alcohol. These individuals also display difficulty on cognitive tests suggestive of prefrontal lobe dysfunction. This response pattern is not characteristic of controls nor of daughters of multigenerational male alcoholics. A model is presented that hypothesizes a cognitive disturbance underlying the hyperreactivity and posits a problem in the attribution of meaning to novel stimuli and threatening events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chronic tolerance and sensitization to alcohol in sons of alcoholics: II. Replication and reanalysis.

Data from D. B. Newlin and J. B. Thomson (1991) were reanalyzed, and data from an independent replication study were analyzed, relative to tonic (baseline) and phasic (response to alcohol challenge) aspects of drinking alcohol administered at the same dose on several occasions. Among the high-risk men (sons of alcoholic fathers), linear trends across days for resting (predrinking) baselines were opposite to alcohol-evoked changes for finger pulse amplitude, finger temperature, and skin conductance in Study 1 and for pulse transit time and body sway (static ataxia) in Study 2. In contrast, the structure of the low-risk men's (sons of nonalcoholic parents) data was precisely the opposite. Results are discussed in terms of sensitization as a potential mechanism that relates vulnerability to final manifestation of addictive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alcohol challenge with sons of alcoholics: A critical review and analysis.

Studies are reviewed in which response to acute administration of alcohol was compared between individuals with and without family histories of alcoholism (FH+, FH–). This research represents a search for a psychobiological marker for alcoholism. A methodological critique of the procedures reported in this literature is then presented. Finally, a conceptual model is suggested in which differences in the response to alcohol between FH+ individuals and FH– individuals must be understood in relation to time after drinking alcohol. This Newtonian differentiator model proposes that sons of alcoholics exhibit acute sensitization as blood alcohol level rises and acute tolerance as blood alcohol level falls, compared with sons of nonalcoholics. Therefore, FH+ Ss find alcohol more rewarding because they accentuate the pleasurable, excitatory aspects of initial intoxication and attenuate the feelings of anxiety and depression that predominate as blood alcohol levels drop. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterogeneity in the families of sons of alcoholics: The impact of familial vulnerability type on offspring characteristics.

In 2 samples of sons of alcoholics (family history positive for alcoholism; FHP: N?=?74 & N?=?72), cluster analyses identified 3 subtypes of familial vulnerability: 1 with low levels of familial psychopathology (FHP-LP) and moderate levels of familial alcoholism; a 2nd with high levels of familial antisocial personality (FHP-ASP), violence, and alcoholism; and a 3rd with high levels of familial depression (FHP-DEP), mania, anxiety disorder, and alcoholism. Compared with family history negative (FHN) participants (N?=?106), FHP offspring had higher levels of alcohol problems. FHP-ASP offspring had elevated levels of antisocial traits and negative affect. Compared with FHN participants, FHP-DEP offspring elevated levels of antisocial traits, hypomania, and experience seeking. FHP-LP offspring had moderate levels of antisocial traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factors associated with marital aggression in male alcoholics.

Male alcoholics who were physically aggressive toward their wives in the year before alcoholism treatment (n?=?71) were compared with nonaggressive counterparts (n?=?36). Two key patterns were associated with marital aggression: (a) binge drinking linked with coercive marital conflicts and (b) markers of a severe early onset alcoholism syndrome. Maritally aggressive men were younger and exhibited more binge drinking, higher prevalence of arrest, more verbal aggression, greater alcohol problem severity, earlier alcohol problem onset, more alcoholism among male biological relatives, less maternal alcohol use, less confidence in their ability to manage interpersonal conflict without drinking, and stronger beliefs that alcohol causes marital problems. Marital adjustment levels were not associated with marital aggression, and very few differences were found between moderate and severe violence groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in male alcoholics.

During successive daily sessions, each of 8 29–44 yr old chronic male alcoholics received, in counterbalanced order, doses of beverage alcohol (.08, .4, .8, and 1.2 g/kg) prior to viewing nonerotic and erotic films. Measures of penile tumescence obtained by means of a penile plethysmograph showed a significant negative linear effect of increasing alcohol doses during the heterosexual and homosexual films. Ss' expectations about the effect of alcohol on sexual arousal and behavior were discrepant with these physiological findings. Consistently, Ss reported that alcohol would have no effect on their sexual arousal or would increase it. Results are discussed with reference to other studies, and it is concluded that penile tumescence is a convenient, reliable, and discriminating measure of male sexual arousal. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marital interactions of male versus female alcoholics

This study assessed the interactions of 131 alcoholic and nonalcoholic couples as they engaged in discussions of personally relevant problems. For 50 couples, the husband was alcoholic; for 15 couples, the wife was alcoholic; for 16 couples, both spouses were alcoholics; and for 50 couples, neither spouse was alcoholic. Observations were conducted during sessions when alcohol was consumed and in nondrinking sessions. Female alcoholic couples (with nonalcoholic spouses) demonstrated high negativity in the "no-drink" session, which was normalized in the drink session, suggesting an adaptive function to alcohol use. Concordant couples (both members were alcoholic) also demonstrated high negativity in the no-drink session, but exhibited increased negativity in the drink session, suggesting that concordance has a maladaptive impact on marital interaction. All alcoholic groups demonstrated greater negativity and lower positivity and congeniality in their marital interactions compared to nonalcoholic couples. Couples with male alcoholics were the least divergent from normal control couples. Unique female patterns in alcoholism are discussed in terms of adaptive and reinforcing patterns and spousal influences.     

Cue reactivity as a predictor of drinking among male alcoholics.

Social learning theories suggest that conditioned responses may increase the risk for relapse. Responses to alcohol use cues (cue reactivity) are associated with variables suggestive of risk but little research exists on the relationship of cue reactivity to treatment outcome. Alcoholic men admitted for detoxification to a treatment program (n?=?45) underwent a cue reactivity assessment protocol, and 91% received 3-mo follow-up interviews. Greater salivary reactivity predicted greater frequency of drinking during follow-up. Attentional factors added independent variance to the prediction of drinking outcome, with greater attention to stimulus or to response predicting less drinking. Cue reactivity did not predict length of hospital stay or latency to first drink. Results are discussed in the context of information processing, social learning theories, and clinical implications for relapse prevention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental trajectories of disruptive behavior problems among sons of alcoholics: Effects of parent psychopathology, family conflict, and child undercontrol.

This study examined trajectories of disruptive behavior problems from preschool to early adolescence in 302 boys from a community-recruited sample of high-risk families. Growth modeling showed that paternal alcoholism was associated with elevated levels of sons' disruptive behavior problems. Family conflict predicted more disruptive behaviors at school entry and a slower rate of decline in such problems. Parent antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) exacerbated the effects of high preschool levels of sons' undercontrol on level of disruptive behaviors at school entry; this effect became progressively stronger across time. Low levels of undercontrol protected sons of ASPD parents from experiencing heightened levels of disruptive behaviors both at school entry and increasingly as sons grew older. Implications for subsequent maladjustment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cue exposure with coping skills treatment for male alcoholics: A preliminary investigation.

Although early investigations were promising, no controlled follow-up studies have investigated the effectiveness of cue exposure treatment for alcoholics. In this study, inpatient alcoholics received either cue exposure integrated with urge coping skills training (CET; n?=?22) or a contrast condition (CC) involving daily contact with assessment only (n?=?18) in addition to standard treatment. Comprehensive assessment measures were used to investigate change in process and outcome variables. In the 2nd 3 mo after treatment, the CET group included more patients who were completely abstinent, had a higher percentage of abstinent days, and tended to report fewer drinks per day than did patients in the contrast condition. The significantly greater use of coping skills during follow-up by the CET group and the significant relationship of these coping skills to decreased drinking suggest that treatment effects were due, at least in part, to the coping skills training, consistent with recent formulations. Theoretical and treatment implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Listening to caregiving sons: misunderstood realities

In-depth interviews with 30 sons actively involved in caring for a parent with dementia expand the understanding of sons' caregiving experiences. The within-group analysis revealed common themes that emerged from the narratives--duty, acceptance, taking charge, common emotions, and work flexibility--as well as common issues--loss, sibling relationships, role reversal, coping strategies, and positive outcomes. The interviews also generated a typology of son caregivers that included such types as the dutiful son, the son who goes the extra mile, the strategic planner, and the son who shares the care.     

Verbal and visuospatial performance in male alcoholics: A test of the premature-aging hypothesis.

Tested the premature-aging hypothesis of generalized dysfunction, using a paired-associate learning test that has separate verbal and visuospatial subtests of the same structure and method. Ss were 36 hospitalized White male chronic alcoholics (mean age 42.4 yrs), 36 control Ss (mean age 42.5 yrs), and 24 elderly Ss (mean age 71.4 yrs). Ss were also administered the Shipley Institute of Living Scale for Measuring Intellectual Impairment and Memory-for-Designs test. Results show that elderly control Ss performed significantly worse than middle-aged control Ss on both learning subtests. For Ss between 30 and 80 yrs of age, increasing age resulted in increasing errors. According to the generalized dysfunction hypothesis, the performance of alcoholics should be similar to that of the elderly, showing impairment compared to control Ss on both learning tests. However, alcoholics performed at the same level as the middle-aged control Ss on verbal learning and were significantly poorer on visuospatial learning. The generalized dysfunction version of the premature-aging hypothesis for performance of alcoholics on neuropsychological tests was not supported. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Normative data on locus of control in male alcoholics undergoing treatment.

Studies relating locus of control to alcoholic populations have not been definitive due to the potential nonhomogeneity of alcoholic subgroups and the lack of normative data for any alcoholic population. Consequently, an alcoholic could be defined as internally oriented in one study, externally oriented in another. To permit comparison within or across subgroups, normative data were gathered from 10 studies utilizing Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale with male alcoholics undergoing treatment (a total of 835 Ss). Results of these studies indicated that a score of 6 or below defined the internally controlled alcoholic, 7 or above, the externally controlled alcoholic. The distribution of locus of control scores did not differ significantly from a normal distribution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of drinking outcomes for male alcoholics after 10 to 14 years

This study reports on the long-term outcomes of 360 men who were hospitalized for alcoholism during 1980 to 1984 and followed at 12 months and again 10 to 14 years later. At the 10/14-year follow-up, 96 (26.7%) men were confirmed as deceased; 255 (70.8%) men participated in the assessment/interview battery completed during baseline hospitalization. The battery consisted of psychosocial, alcohol-related, and psychiatric measures. Two distinct but highly correlated outcome measures were selected: a clinical rating scale and a factor score. Overall, predictors from baseline and 12-month follow-up included age at intake hospitalization, alcoholism severity, social stability, drinking days, and antisocial personality disorder. Approximately 37% of the assessed survivors were either totally abstinent or drinking nonabusively throughout the 10/14-year follow-up, whereas another 37% continued to drink abusively. Men who abstained or reduced alcohol intake reported better physical health at follow-up than those who continued to drink. Although our findings did not directly link alcoholism to death, they strongly indicate that chronic alcohol abuse may lead to premature death.     

Field dependence among male and female alcoholics: II. Norms for the rod-and-frame test

402 males and 160 females hospitalized for treatment of alcoholism were tested in a standardized manner on the Rod-and-frame test as a means of supplementing an earlier report of normative data on perceptual style among male alcoholics. When their performance was contrasted with that of normal and psychiatric samples, alcoholics were clearly the most field dependent of all groups studied. Statistically significant sex differences justify the need for separate norms for males and females.     

Biological vulnerability to alcoholism.

This article reviews the role of biological factors in the risk for alcoholism. The discussion notes the importance of the definition of primary alcoholism and highlights data indicating that this disorder is genetically influenced. The major emphasis is on studies of men at high risk for the future development of alcoholism. The most promising trait markers of a biological vulnerability to alcoholism include a decreased intensity of reaction to modest ethanol doses for sons of alcoholics compared with control subjects, a decreased amplitude of certain brain waves of the event-related potential, and a different pattern of background cortical electroencephalograms for young men at high risk for future alcoholism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chronological age differences in MMPI scores of male chronic alcoholics seeking treatment.

M. Gynther's (1979) general hypothesis that older Ss self-report better adjustment on the MMPI than do younger Ss was tested among 616 male chronic alcoholics classified into 5 age groups: 30 or younger, 31–40, 41–50, 51–60, and 61 or older. Multivariate and univariate analyses of variance and covariance supported Gynther's general hypothesis as well as 3 specific corollary hypotheses predicting that older alcoholics, relative to younger alcoholics, are lower in impulsivity-control difficulties and higher in health concerns, but are not different in social introversion. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interests of fathers and sons.

"Estimation of 'true' resemblance must represent resemblance between fathers and sons, as such, and not resemblance between all men, or even the general resemblance between men in any two samples under consideration. Correlations between chance pairs have been deducted from correlations between true pairs to provide a more accurate measure of resemblance. Father-son resemblance must be construed to mean resemblance in certain respects but not in all respects… . An interest profile should express a pattern of interests even better than a single scale. On such a basis one may explain the higher resemblance between profiles (.40) than between scores on interest scales (.30 to .35) and the definitely higher correlation between profiles than between items (.27)." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)