Exploration of the Impact of Combining Risk Phenotypes on the Likelihood of Alcohol Problems in Young Adults. (17th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kampov-Polevoy, Alexei; Bobashev, Georgiy; Garbutt, James C
• Is Part Of: Alcohol and alcoholism. Volume 57:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 357
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2021-07-17
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agab049
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-0414

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: We tested the hypothesis that high novelty seeking (NS—an externalizing trait), sweet-liking (SL—a phenotype that may reflect processing of hedonic stimuli) and initial insensitivity to the impairing effects of alcohol (SRE-A) act independently and synergistically to increase the likelihood of having alcohol-related problems in young adults. Methods: A sample of 145 young adults, ages 18–26, balanced for gender and alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) scores <8 or ≥8 were selected from a prior sample. NS, SL and SRE-A were assessed along with AUDIT score and family history of alcoholism (FH). The effect of phenotypes and their interaction on the likelihood of alcohol problems was assessed. Results: All three phenotypes contribute to the total AUDIT score. The best-fitting model explaining 35.8% of AUDIT variance includes all three phenotypes and an interaction between NS and SL/sweet-disliking (SDL) status. The addition of FH to the model explains an additional 4% of variance in both models. Classification and regression tree analysis showed that the main phenotype influencing AUDIT score is NS. The SL/SDL phenotype is a strong modifying factor for high NS. SRE-A was shown to be a weak modifier for individuals with low NS. Conclusion: The evidence supports the hypothesis that the presence of multiple alcohol use disorders (AUD) risk phenotypes with different underlying neurobiological mechanisms within an individual (SL, NS and SRE-A) represents a higher likelihood for developing alcohol-related problems and may allow for a graded assessment of risk for AUD and offer the possibility for early intervention strategies. Abstract : Short Summary: Three phenotypes (high novelty seeking, sweet-liking and initial insensitivity to the impairing effects of alcohol) independently contribute to higher levels of alcohol-related problems (AUDIT score) in young adults and, when combined, are associated with an increased likelihood of alcohol problems compared with any single or any two phenotypes.