Direct and mediated associations between P300 amplitude in childhood and substance use disorders outcome in young adulthood.
BACKGROUND
Attenuated amplitude of the P300 wave has been frequently documented in youths at high risk for substance use disorders (SUDs). This investigation had two aims: 1) determine whether P300 amplitude in late childhood is a predictor of SUD outcome by age 19; and 2) evaluate whether neurobehavior disinhibition (ND) mediates this association.


METHODS
Boys (aged 10-12) were recruited through proband biological fathers with either a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis of SUD (N = 67) or no adult psychiatric disorder (N = 94). P300 amplitude was recorded during an auditory oddball task. Neurobehavior disinhibition was evaluated using tests of executive cognitive function, behavior under control, and emotion dysregulation. The relationship is assessed using multiple and logistic regressions.


RESULTS
Substance use disorder by age 19 was significantly predicted by P300 amplitude (odds ratio [OR] = .958; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .918-.999; Wald chi (2) = 3.992; df = 1; p = .045) and ND score (OR = 1.060; 95% CI = 1.023-1.098; Wald chi (2) = 10.267; df = 1; p = .0014) measured at age 10 to 12. P300 amplitude also significantly correlated with ND severity (beta = -.217; t = -2.412; df = 6,160; p = .017). Low P300 amplitudes were observed in children who succumbed to SUD by age 19.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that ND mediates the association between attenuated P300 amplitude in childhood and SUD at age 19; however, P300 amplitude is not a specific childhood marker of SUD.
Habeych
Miguel E
ME
Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, 711 Salk Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. meh1+@pitt.edu
Charles
Prophete J
PJ
Sclabassi
Robert J
RJ
Kirisci
Levent
L
Tarter
Ralph E
RE
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*