title: Childhood maltreatment affects the serotonergic system in male alcohol-dependent individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduced central serotonergic neurotransmission has been demonstrated in individuals with excessive alcohol consumption and/or alcohol dependence. Childhood maltreatment has also been found to have a negative impact on central serotonergic neurotransmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of childhood maltreatment on central serotonergic dysfunction in alcohol-dependent individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult men with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence (n = 18) were recruited from outpatient treatment units for alcoholism. Central serotonergic neurotransmission was assessed by a neuroendocrine method, that is, the prolactin (PRL) response to the selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor citalopram. Childhood maltreatment was assessed retrospectively by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol-dependent individuals with childhood experience of emotional abuse had significantly lower PRL response compared with those without such abuse (3 ± 5 and 64 ± 24 mU/l, respectively; t = 6.51, p < 0.001). Among those who reported childhood emotional abuse, 4 of 7 individuals had flat PRL responses in comparison with none in those with no report of such abuse (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to show that self-reported childhood maltreatment, in particular emotional abuse, in male alcohol-dependent individuals is associated with a quite dramatic (more than 90%) reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission. It should, however, be noted that the number of individuals is relatively small, and the results should therefore be considered as preliminary.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Kristina J
authors: KJ
authors: Berglund
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Balldin
authors: Ulf
authors: U
authors: Berggren
authors: Arne
authors: A
authors: Gerdner
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Fahlke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D011388:Prolactin; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors