title: Analgesic effects of ethanol are influenced by family history of alcoholism and neuroticism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although personality factors and family history of substance abuse influence how individuals experience pain and respond to analgesics, the combined effects of those factors have not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to consider the possible role of personality trait of neuroticism and family history of alcoholism on the experience of pain and their role in the analgesic response to an ethanol challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight healthy subjects participated in this study; thirty-one had a positive family history of alcoholism (FHP), seventeen had a negative family history of alcoholism (FHN). They were also categorized based on their neuroticism (N) scores (low N = 28, and high N = 20). This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, within-subject design study of intravenous administration of three doses of ethanol. The testing consisted of 3 separate test days scheduled at least 3 days apart. Test days included a placebo day (saline solution), low-exposure ethanol day (targeted breathalyzer = 0.040 g/dl), and high-exposure ethanol day (targeted breathalyzer = 0.100 g/dl). Noxious electrical stimulation and pain assessments were performed prior to start of infusion and at the 60-minute infusion mark.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analgesic effect of ethanol was mediated by an interaction between the personality trait of neuroticism and family history. Individuals with family history of alcoholism and high N scores reported significantly more analgesia on low dose of ethanol than those with low N scores. There was no difference in the analgesic response to ethanol among FHNs with low and high N scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the conclusion that neuroticism and family history of alcoholism both influence the analgesic response of alcohol. Individuals with high N scores and FHP have the strongest response to ethanol analgesia particularly on the low exposure to alcohol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06516, USA. Elizabeth.Ralevski@yale.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ralevski
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perrino
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acampora
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koretski
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Limoncelli
authors.forename: Ismene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Petrakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000431:Ethanol