Genetic effects on alcohol dependence risk: re-evaluating the importance of psychiatric and other heritable risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Genetic influences have been shown to play a major role in determining the risk of alcohol dependence (AD) in both women and men; however, little attention has been directed to identifying the major sources of genetic variation in AD risk.


METHODS
Diagnostic telephone interview data from young adult Australian twin pairs born between 1964 and 1971 were analyzed. Cox regression models were fitted to interview data from a total of 2708 complete twin pairs (690 MZ female, 485 MZ male, 500 DZ female, 384 DZ male, and 649 DZ female/male pairs). Structural equation models were fitted to determine the extent of residual genetic and environmental influences on AD risk while controlling for effects of sociodemographic and psychiatric predictors on risk.


RESULTS
Risk of AD was increased in males, in Roman Catholics, in those reporting a history of major depression, social anxiety problems, and conduct disorder, or (in females only) a history of suicide attempt and childhood sexual abuse; but was decreased in those reporting Baptist, Methodist, or Orthodox religion, in those who reported weekly church attendance, and in university-educated males. After allowing for the effects of sociodemographic and psychiatric predictors, 47 % (95% CI 28-55) of the residual variance in alcoholism risk was attributable to additive genetic effects, 0% (95% CI 0-14) to shared environmental factors, and 53% (95% CI 45-63) to nonshared environmental influences.


CONCLUSIONS
Controlling for other risk factors, substantial residual heritability of AD was observed, suggesting that psychiatric and other risk factors play a minor role in the inheritance of AD.
Knopik
Valerie S
VS
Missouri Alcoholism Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63108, USA. vsknopik@matlock.wustl.edu
Heath
Andrew C
AC
Madden
Pamela A F
PA
Bucholz
Kathleen K
KK
Slutske
Wendy S
WS
Nelson
Elliot C
EC
Statham
Dixie
D
Whitfield
John B
JB
Martin
Nicholas G
NG
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted