Reliability and validity of alcohol-induced heart rate increase as a measure of sensitivity to the stimulant properties of alcohol.
BACKGROUND
Alcohol-induced heart rate (HR) stimulation during the rising limb of the blood alcohol curve reliably discriminates between individuals at differential risk for alcoholism, and appears to be a potential psychophysiological index of psychomotor stimulation from alcohol.


OBJECTIVE
Three studies are presented which explore the reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of this alcohol response index.


METHODS
Young men with and without a multigenerational family history of alcoholism were administered a 1.0 ml/kg dose of 95% USP alcohol. Resting baseline cardiac and subjective measures were assessed before and after alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Study 1 demonstrated that alcohol-induced HR stimulation was significantly and positively related to alcohol-induced changes in mood. Study 2 demonstrated that alcohol-induced HR stimulation was reliable across two alcohol administration sessions (r=0.33-0.66, P<0.01). Study 3 explored the relationship between the proposed index and measures of sensitivity to alcohol previously linked to genetic predisposition to alcoholism. Multiple regression analysis indicated that alcohol-induced HR increase and reduced subjective intoxication (measured using the Subjective High Assessment Scale) were both positively associated with alcohol-induced changes in mood states that have previously been shown to be sensitive to the effects of stimulant drugs and the reinforcing effects of alcohol.


CONCLUSIONS
Sensitivity to alcohol-induced heart-rate stimulation during the ascending limb of the blood alcohol curve may be a useful and informative marker for understanding susceptibility to alcoholism.
Conrod
P J
PJ
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4. pconrod@cortex.psych.ubc.ca
Peterson
J B
JB
Pihl
R O
RO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
D000431:Ethanol