0
November 8, 1985, Vol 254, No. 18 >
ARTICLE | November 8, 1985

Genetics and the Risk for Alcoholism FREE

Marc A. Schuckit, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Department of Psychiatry, San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92161 (Dr Schuckit).


JAMA. 1985;254(18):2614-2617. doi:10.1001/jama.1985.03360180118037
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References

The importance of genetic factors in alcoholism is supported by the familial nature of this disorder, the significantly higher concordance rate in identical than in fraternal twins, and the fourfold higher risk for children of alcoholics, even when adopted out at birth. Based on this evidence, the search is under way to identify possible genetically influenced factors that might contribute to the alcoholism risk. Studies of populations at high risk for the future development of alcoholism (eg, sons of alcoholics) have revealed a probable decreased intensity of reaction to modest doses of ethanol, a possible decreased amplitude of the P300 wave of the event-related potential, and a possible decreased amount of α-wave activity on the background cortical electroencephalogram. The implications of these and other findings and their impact on the practice of medicine are explored.

(JAMA 1985;254:2614-2617)

REFERENCES

1 +
Schuckit MA:  The epidemiology of alcoholism , in Schuckit MA (ed): Alcohol Patterns and Problems, Series in Psychosocial Epidemiology . New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers Press, 1985;, vol 5, pp 1-42.
2 +
Robins LN, et al:  Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in sites . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:949-958.
3 +
Cotton NS:  The familial incidence of alcoholism: A review . J Stud Alcohol 1979;;40:89-116.
4 +
Gurling HM:  Genetic epidemiology in medicine—recent twin research . Br Med J 1984;; 288:3-5.
5 +
Schuckit MA:  Twin studies on substance abuse: An overview , in Gedda L, Parisi P, Nance W (eds): Twin Research: 3. Epidemiological and Clinical Studies . New York, Alan R Liss Inc, 1981;.
6 +
Goodwin DW, Schulsinger F, Moller N, et al:  Drinking problems in adopted and nonadopted sons of alcoholics . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974;;31:164-169.
7 +
Bohman M, Sigvardsson S, Cloninger R:  Material inheritance of alcohol abuse . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:965-969.
8 +
Schuckit MA:  Studies of populations at high risk for alcoholism . Psychiatr Dev 1985;;3:31-63.
9 +
Begleiter H, Porjesz B, Bihari B, et al:  Event-related brain potentials in boys at risk for alcoholism . Science 1984;;225:1493-1495.
10 +
Schaeffer KW, Parsons OQ, Yohman JR:  Neuropsychological differences between male familial and nonfamilial alcoholics and nonalcoholics . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1984;;8:347-358.
11 +
Hedegus AM, Alterman AI, Tarter RE:  Learning achievement in sons of alcoholics . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1984;;8:330-333.
12 +
Lipscomb TR, Nathan PE:  Blood alcohol level discrimination: The effects of family history and alcoholism, drinking pattern, and tolerance . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;;37:571-576.
13 +
Schuckit MA:  Subjective responses to alcohol in sons of alcoholics and controls . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:879-884.
14 +
O'Malley SS, Maisto SA:  The effects of family drinking history on responses to alcohol: Expectancies and reactions to intoxication . J Stud Alcohol 1985;;46:289-297.
15 +
Mednick SA:  Subjects at risk for alcoholism: Recent reports . Presented at the 14th Annual Medical Conference Scientific Conference of the National Alcoholism Forum (Research Society on Alcoholism), Houston, April 4, 1983 .
16 +
Schuckit MA:  Ethanol-induced changes in body sway in men at high alcoholism risk . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985;;42:375-379.
17 +
Schuckit MA, Parker DC, Rossman LR:  Ethanol-related prolactin responses and risk for alcoholism . Biol Psychiatry 1983;;18:1153-1159.
18 +
Schuckit MA:  Differences in plasma cortisol after ingestion of ethanol in relatives of alcoholics and controls: Preliminary results . J Clin Psychiatry 1984;;45:374-376.
19 +
Propping P, Kruger J, Mark N:  Genetic disposition to alcoholism: An EEG study in alcoholics and their relatives . Hum Genet 1981;; 59:51-59.
20 +
Pollock VE, Volavka J, Goodwin DW, et al:  The EEG after alcohol administration in men at risk for alcoholism . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983;; 40:857-861.
21 +
Schuckit MA, Engstrom D, Alpert R, et al:  Differences in muscle-tension response to ethanol in young men with and without family histories of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1981;; 42:918-924.
22 +
Schuckit MA:  Peak blood alcohol levels in men at high risk for the future development of alcoholism . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1981;;5:64-66.
23 +
Eriksson CJ:  Human blood acetaldehyde concentration during ethanol oxidation (update, 1982) . Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1983;;18:141-150.
24 +
Behar D, Berg CJ, Rapoport JL:  Behavioral and physiological effects of ethanol in high-risk and control children: A pilot study . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1983;;7:404-410.
25 +
Schuckit MA, Rayses V:  Ethanol ingestion: Differences in blood acetaldehyde concentrations in relatives of alcoholics and controls . Science 1979;;203:54-55.
26 +
Zeiner AR, Krug R, Kegg P, et al:  Cardiovascular and pharmacokinetic effects of ethanol in offspring of alcoholics and social drinkers . Presented at the 20th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 12, 1982 .
27 +
Ward K, Weir DG, McCrodden JM, et al:  Blood acetaldehyde levels in relatives of alcoholics following ethanol ingestion . ICRS Med Sci 1983;;11:950.
28 +
Saunders GR, Schuckit MA:  Brief communication: MMPI scores in young men with alcoholic relatives and controls . J Nerv Ment Dis 1981;;168:456-458.
29 +
Schuckit MA:  Anxiety and assertiveness in the relatives of alcoholics and controls . J Clin Psychiatry 1982;;43:238-239.
30 +
Schuckit MA:  Extroversion and neuroticism in young men . Am J Psychiatry 1983;; 140:1223-1224.
31 +
Morrison C, Schuckit MA:  Locus of control in young men with alcoholic relatives and controls . J Clin Psychiatry 1983;;44:306-307.
32 +
MacAndrew C:  On the possibility of the psychometric detection of persons who are prone to the abuse of alcohol and other substances . Addict Behav 1979;;4:11-20.
33 +
Goodwin DW, Schulsinger F, Hermansen L, et al:  Alcoholism and the hyperactive child syndrome . J Nerv Ment Dis 1975;;160:349-353.
34 +
Vaillant GE, Milofsky ES:  The etiology of alcoholism: A prospective viewpoint . Am Psychol 1982;;37:494-502.
35 +
Schuckit MA:  Genetic and biochemical factors in the etiology of alcoholism , in Grinspoon L (ed): Psychiatry Update . Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press Inc, 1984;, vol 3, pp 320-327.
36 +
Schuckit MA: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment . New York, Plenum Publishing Corp, 1984;.
37 +
Schuckit MA:  Alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders . Hosp Community Psychiatry 1983;;34:1022-1027.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Schuckit MA:  The epidemiology of alcoholism , in Schuckit MA (ed): Alcohol Patterns and Problems, Series in Psychosocial Epidemiology . New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers Press, 1985;, vol 5, pp 1-42.
2 +
Robins LN, et al:  Lifetime prevalence of specific psychiatric disorders in sites . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:949-958.
3 +
Cotton NS:  The familial incidence of alcoholism: A review . J Stud Alcohol 1979;;40:89-116.
4 +
Gurling HM:  Genetic epidemiology in medicine—recent twin research . Br Med J 1984;; 288:3-5.
5 +
Schuckit MA:  Twin studies on substance abuse: An overview , in Gedda L, Parisi P, Nance W (eds): Twin Research: 3. Epidemiological and Clinical Studies . New York, Alan R Liss Inc, 1981;.
6 +
Goodwin DW, Schulsinger F, Moller N, et al:  Drinking problems in adopted and nonadopted sons of alcoholics . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974;;31:164-169.
7 +
Bohman M, Sigvardsson S, Cloninger R:  Material inheritance of alcohol abuse . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1981;;38:965-969.
8 +
Schuckit MA:  Studies of populations at high risk for alcoholism . Psychiatr Dev 1985;;3:31-63.
9 +
Begleiter H, Porjesz B, Bihari B, et al:  Event-related brain potentials in boys at risk for alcoholism . Science 1984;;225:1493-1495.
10 +
Schaeffer KW, Parsons OQ, Yohman JR:  Neuropsychological differences between male familial and nonfamilial alcoholics and nonalcoholics . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1984;;8:347-358.
11 +
Hedegus AM, Alterman AI, Tarter RE:  Learning achievement in sons of alcoholics . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1984;;8:330-333.
12 +
Lipscomb TR, Nathan PE:  Blood alcohol level discrimination: The effects of family history and alcoholism, drinking pattern, and tolerance . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;;37:571-576.
13 +
Schuckit MA:  Subjective responses to alcohol in sons of alcoholics and controls . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1984;;41:879-884.
14 +
O'Malley SS, Maisto SA:  The effects of family drinking history on responses to alcohol: Expectancies and reactions to intoxication . J Stud Alcohol 1985;;46:289-297.
15 +
Mednick SA:  Subjects at risk for alcoholism: Recent reports . Presented at the 14th Annual Medical Conference Scientific Conference of the National Alcoholism Forum (Research Society on Alcoholism), Houston, April 4, 1983 .
16 +
Schuckit MA:  Ethanol-induced changes in body sway in men at high alcoholism risk . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1985;;42:375-379.
17 +
Schuckit MA, Parker DC, Rossman LR:  Ethanol-related prolactin responses and risk for alcoholism . Biol Psychiatry 1983;;18:1153-1159.
18 +
Schuckit MA:  Differences in plasma cortisol after ingestion of ethanol in relatives of alcoholics and controls: Preliminary results . J Clin Psychiatry 1984;;45:374-376.
19 +
Propping P, Kruger J, Mark N:  Genetic disposition to alcoholism: An EEG study in alcoholics and their relatives . Hum Genet 1981;; 59:51-59.
20 +
Pollock VE, Volavka J, Goodwin DW, et al:  The EEG after alcohol administration in men at risk for alcoholism . Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983;; 40:857-861.
21 +
Schuckit MA, Engstrom D, Alpert R, et al:  Differences in muscle-tension response to ethanol in young men with and without family histories of alcoholism . J Stud Alcohol 1981;; 42:918-924.
22 +
Schuckit MA:  Peak blood alcohol levels in men at high risk for the future development of alcoholism . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1981;;5:64-66.
23 +
Eriksson CJ:  Human blood acetaldehyde concentration during ethanol oxidation (update, 1982) . Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1983;;18:141-150.
24 +
Behar D, Berg CJ, Rapoport JL:  Behavioral and physiological effects of ethanol in high-risk and control children: A pilot study . Alcoholism Clin Exp Res 1983;;7:404-410.
25 +
Schuckit MA, Rayses V:  Ethanol ingestion: Differences in blood acetaldehyde concentrations in relatives of alcoholics and controls . Science 1979;;203:54-55.
26 +
Zeiner AR, Krug R, Kegg P, et al:  Cardiovascular and pharmacokinetic effects of ethanol in offspring of alcoholics and social drinkers . Presented at the 20th International Congress of Applied Psychology, Edinburgh, Scotland, July 12, 1982 .
27 +
Ward K, Weir DG, McCrodden JM, et al:  Blood acetaldehyde levels in relatives of alcoholics following ethanol ingestion . ICRS Med Sci 1983;;11:950.
28 +
Saunders GR, Schuckit MA:  Brief communication: MMPI scores in young men with alcoholic relatives and controls . J Nerv Ment Dis 1981;;168:456-458.
29 +
Schuckit MA:  Anxiety and assertiveness in the relatives of alcoholics and controls . J Clin Psychiatry 1982;;43:238-239.
30 +
Schuckit MA:  Extroversion and neuroticism in young men . Am J Psychiatry 1983;; 140:1223-1224.
31 +
Morrison C, Schuckit MA:  Locus of control in young men with alcoholic relatives and controls . J Clin Psychiatry 1983;;44:306-307.
32 +
MacAndrew C:  On the possibility of the psychometric detection of persons who are prone to the abuse of alcohol and other substances . Addict Behav 1979;;4:11-20.
33 +
Goodwin DW, Schulsinger F, Hermansen L, et al:  Alcoholism and the hyperactive child syndrome . J Nerv Ment Dis 1975;;160:349-353.
34 +
Vaillant GE, Milofsky ES:  The etiology of alcoholism: A prospective viewpoint . Am Psychol 1982;;37:494-502.
35 +
Schuckit MA:  Genetic and biochemical factors in the etiology of alcoholism , in Grinspoon L (ed): Psychiatry Update . Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Press Inc, 1984;, vol 3, pp 320-327.
36 +
Schuckit MA: Drug and Alcohol Abuse: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment . New York, Plenum Publishing Corp, 1984;.
37 +
Schuckit MA:  Alcoholism and other psychiatric disorders . Hosp Community Psychiatry 1983;;34:1022-1027.

Letters

Submit a Letter
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Response

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems