Effects of Family History on Alcohol Consumption and Adverse Consequences in College Freshmen in the BARCS Study

Jason-Flor Sisante1, Balaji Narayanan1, Rivkah Rosen1, Rachel Jiantonio1, Carolyn Fallahi3, Rebecca Wood3, Howard Tennen4, Sarah Raskin5, Carol Shaw Austad3, Godfrey Pearlson1, 2 

1 Olin Neuropsychiatry Research Center, Institute of Living at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, 2Depts. of Psychiatry & Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 3Dept. of Psychology, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT,4 University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 5Dept. of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Trinity College, Hartford CT

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

-192 college freshmen (117 female) between the ages of 18 and 25 (M: 18.84 SD: 1.1 ) were recruited from the Brain and Alcohol Research with College Students (BARCS )study from two demographically distinct colleges in Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University and Trinity College. The BARCS study is an ongoing NIAAA- funded project that uses genetic, neuroimaging, and cognitive testing to study the longitudinal effects of drinking in college students3.

-74% of the students reported their racial background as white; 14% black; 9% Latino; and 3% Asian.

-Family history of alcohol problems was obtained using a Family History Screen which includes a family tree. This accounted for the students’ extended lineage back to their grandparents. This assessment inquires about legal, health, and personal troubles of family members due to alcohol and drug use. Thirty students (15.6%) were classified as FHP1; fifty-five (28.6%) as FHP2; and one hundred and seven (55.6%) as FHN.

- Monthly alcohol and drug use was obtained through a secured website. Cognitive testing and psychiatric diagnoses were obtained for all subjects at their home colleges. Presence of a psychiatric diagnosis did not result in study exclusion as we hoped to obtain a representative sample.

-The customized Alcohol Interview (ALI) is adapted from the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcohol (SSAGA)4. This assessment gathers drinking behavior and consequences such as recent alcohol consumption, blackouts (drinking to the extent of forgetting one’s actions during the drinking episode), pass outs (drinking to the extent of falling into an unwanted deep sleep), and sexual activity under the influence.

- Measures analyzed for alcohol consumption were maximum drinks in twenty-four hours lifetime and maximum drinks in twenty-four hours within the past six months. Measures for adverse consequences were total lifetime pass outs and total lifetime blackouts.

-MANOVA was used to assess group differences in the aforementioned variables. No sex differences were found among these variables.

 

Funded by RO1 AA016599 (BARCS Study) & RC1 AA019036 to Dr. Godfrey Pearlson.

Brain and Alcohol Research in College Students (BARCS Study ) “Mascot”

-In the college environment, students drink more than their non-college peers, and family history of alcohol use is a risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorders in young adults1.-Adverse consequences from alcohol use include increased sexual risk-taking , driving accidents, pass outs, and black outs2.-Previous research implicates the effect of family alcoholism history on college students’ drinking behavior. However, these studies have focused primarily on parental history. Here we assess the effect of family history density (parents plus grandparents, aunts/uncles, and siblings) on alcohol consumption and adverse drinking consequences.

-We hypothesized that students who had at least one parent with alcohol problems (FHP1) would report more (a) alcohol consumption and (b)adverse consequences, compared to students who had non-parental family members with alcohol problems (FHP2) or students without a family history of alcohol problems (FHN).

RESULTS-Family history density implicated in relatively high levels of both alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences. Significant differences in lifetime maximum drinks in 24 hours exists between FHP1 and FHN . Significant differences observed between (a) FH1 and FH2 and (b) FH1 and FHN in maximum drinks in 24 hours in previous 6 months; total pass outs; and total blackouts.

-Future studies should examine what genetic mechanism(s) underlie the differences in consumption and consequences.

-Likewise, neuroimaging may elucidate differences in appetitive activation in this college-age sample. Together these two approaches may identify at-risk endophenotypes, which may useful in identifying potential problematic freshmen drinkers.

-Further research should study transference of drinking styles from parent to offspring following Campbell and Oei 20105.

-Furthermore, future research into the effects of family history on drinking experiences , expectancies, and norms may help identify potential problematic freshmen drinkers.

1.) Sher, K.J., and Gotham, H.J.(1999). Dev Psychopathol.

2.) Field, M. et al. (2010). Alcohol Clin Exp Res.

3.) http://www.barcs-study.com/

4. ) Hesselbrock, M. et al. (1999).Addiction.

5.) Campbell, J. and Oei, T (2010). Addict Behav.

HYPOTHESES

MATERIALS & METHODS

REFERENCES

Table 1. Family History Classification

**: p≤.01 * :p≤.05

Dependent Variable Group Mean Std. Error p Max Drinks in 24 Hours Lifetime

FHP1 11.155 1.286 FHP2 9.111 .942 0.04*FHN 7.567 .676

Max Drinks in Previous 6 Months

FHP1 10.107 1.104 FHP2 6.972 .809 0.09**FHN 6.243 .580

Pass OutsFHP1 4.000 .843 FHP2 1.519 .618 0.003**FHN .710 .443

BlackoutsFHP1 3.224 .727 FHP2 1.278 .533 0.028*FHN 1.024 .382

Table 2. Descriptive Statistics

Relative with Alcohol Problems Family History Classification

Mother FHP1

Father FHP1

Brother FHP2

Sister FHP2

Aunt FHP2

Uncle FHP2

Cousin Not included

Grandfather FHP2

Grandmother FHP2

None FHN