Absence of visual and auditory P300 reduction in nondepressed male and female alcoholics.
BACKGROUND
The P300 component of the event-related potential has been extensively studied as a possible neurobiological risk marker for the development of alcoholism. Although P300 amplitude reduction has frequently been documented in high-risk children, studies of adult alcoholics are inconsistent.


METHODS
P300 amplitude from 121 adult alcoholics was compared to 68 controls utilizing event-related potential paradigms from the auditory and visual modalities. All participants were evaluated clinically with psychiatric interviews and administered the MMPI.


RESULTS
Male alcoholics did not show a reduction in amplitude in either the auditory or visual modality. Female alcoholics showed reduced P300 amplitude, but only when a comorbid lifetime diagnosis of depression was present. Similar results were found using current depressed mood (Scale 2 from the MMPI).


CONCLUSIONS
No differences in P300 amplitude were found between alcoholics and controls unless comorbid depression was present. Therefore, P300 amplitude reduction seen in children at high-risk for developing alcoholism seems to represent a neurodevelopmental delay that normalizes by adulthood.
Hill
S Y
SY
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pennsylvania, USA.
Locke
J
J
Steinhauer
S R
SR
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*