Childhood neurobehavior disinhibition amplifies the risk of substance use disorder: interaction of parental history and prenatal alcohol exposure.
OBJECTIVE
This investigation examined the influence of parental substance use disorder (SUD) and mother's alcohol consumption during pregnancy on neurobehavior disinhibition (ND) measured in 10- to 12-year-old children. The extent to which ND predicted SUD outcome 7 to 9 years later was also determined.


METHODS
SUD was documented in each parent and as the outcome variable in their 19-year-old sons. Average daily alcohol consumption during the mother's pregnancy was recorded using a structured interview. ND was assessed using indicators of behavior undercontrol, affect modulation and executive cognitive functions.


RESULTS
Paternal SUD and the interaction between maternal SUD and alcohol consumption during pregnancy predicted child's ND score. ND at 10 to 12 years of age was a significant predictor of SUD at age 19.


CONCLUSIONS
The disinhibitory disturbance associated with risk of SUD has both transmissible and teratogenic causes. The ramifications of this finding for pediatric practice are discussed.
Chapman
Kim
K
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
Tarter
Ralph E
RE
Kirisci
Levent
L
Cornelius
Marie D
MD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005192:Family Health; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications*; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology