title: The association between childhood irritability and liability to substance use in early adolescence: a 2-year follow-up study of boys at risk for substance abuse.
abstract: The aim of this investigation was to determine whether irritability, defined as the propensity to experience and express anger following actual or perceived provocation, is a component of the liability to alcohol and drug abuse. Sons of substance abusing fathers (n = 40) and normal fathers (n = 56) were studied when they were 10-12 years of age and followed-up 2 years later. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that resting salivary cortisol concentration, impulsivity and family discord measured when the subjects were 10-12 years of age explained 35% of the variance on a scale measuring irritability 2 years later. At follow-up, when the boys were 12-14 years of age, it was observed that irritability scale scores and family discord were the only variables that accounted for significance variance on a scale measuring coping via alcohol and drug use. Latency and amplitude of the N1 and P3 event-related potentials of an auditory oddball task, measured at age 10-12, were not associated with drug use at age 12-14. These results indicate that family dysfunction, stress state of the child, and low behavioral self-control additively account for a significant proportion of variance on irritability scale scores 2 years later, and that this trait, in conjunction with family discord, is associated with substance use as a coping response by early adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Tarter
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blackson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brigham
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Caprara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D000786:Anger; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*