title: Prolactin serum levels and alcohol craving - an analysis using Lesch's typology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prolactin secretion is closely connected to dopaminergic transmission that is known to play a crucial role in mediating reinforcement and craving in alcoholism.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was performed to analyze the association between prolactin serum levels and alcohol craving during withdrawal differentiating alcohol-dependent patients using Lesch's typology.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 115 male patients with the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale at early alcohol withdrawal. In addition, serum was obtained to measure prolactin concentration and the patients were classified according to Lesch's typology into one of four subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlation analysis showed a significant association between prolactin serum levels and the extent of craving in Lesch's type 2 patients (r=0.32, p=0.015; n=57); however, no association was found for any other subgroup. The results were confirmed comparing patients with low and high craving (Mann-Whitney U test: Z=-2.805, p=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients of Lesch's type 2, who are characterized to suffer from anxiety and to use alcohol because of its anxiolytic effects, prolactin is associated with craving during early alcohol withdrawal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. thomas.hillemacher@psych.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hillemacher
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bayerlein
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperling
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bleich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin