Risk markers for alcoholism in high-density families.
This review summarizes the efforts of our research program to identify markers for alcoholism risk, which broadly fall within the domain of temperament and those which may be described as attentional or information-processing capacities. Analyses of three-generation pedigrees that include minor children at higher risk of becoming alcoholic indicate that event-related potential characteristics differ between high- and low-risk children. Newer results concerning cardiac responsivity both in minor children and adult high-risk individuals are presented. These results suggest a relationship between personality or temperament on the one hand, and cardiac responsivity on the other. Additional neurobehavioral markers are addressed including static ataxia. Recent segregation analyses and linkage to particular DNA segments are also included.
Hill
S Y
SY
Alcoholism and Genetics Research Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213.
Steinhauer
S R
SR
Smith
T R
TR
Locke
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010375:Pedigree; D010551:Personality / Q000235:genetics; D004856:Postural Balance; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013694:Temperament
D005819:Genetic Markers