Low level of response to alcohol as associated with serotonin transporter genotype and high alcohol intake in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: A low level of response to alcohol has been associated with both the genetic constitution of the regulatory region (SLC6A4) of the human serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (5-HTT) and with future alcohol intake and an increased risk for alcoholism. To date, all studies of relevant polymorphisms have been carried out in populations in the United States. METHODS: Data were extracted from a subset (n = 243) of a cohort of children who have been observed since birth through evaluation of the family history of alcoholism and psychosocial risk influences. At age 16 years, the response to alcohol was assessed with the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol (SRE) questionnaire, and the average amount of alcohol intake per month was assessed during the prior 6 months. Additional variables that were measured included the 5-HTT genotype, externalizing behavior, and sociodemographic variables, such as gender and age. RESULTS: The level of response to alcohol was significantly lower among carriers of two long alleles of the 5-HTT regulatory region compared with carriers of one or two short alleles (Mann-Whitney U = 5225.0, p = .005). In a multiple regression analysis, the level of response to alcohol and externalizing behavior but not psychosocial factors significantly predicted the average amount of alcohol intake per month. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that, independent of the assessed psychosocial variables, the 5-HTT genotype correlated with the level of response to alcohol and predicted alcohol intake among 16-year-old adolescents.     

Female alcoholics. V: The relationship between family history of alcoholism and outcome 3-10 years after treatment

In a long-term follow-up study of 44 female alcoholics, a family history of alcoholism was related to younger age of onset of problem drinking, but did not necessarily imply a poorer outcome within this highly selected group of individuals. Alcoholism in father and his family was not related to either antisocial or borderline personality disorder nor outcome. However, alcoholism in mother and her family correlated with both borderline personality disorder and a significantly poorer outcome. The findings are discussed within different frames of reference, considering genetic mechanisms, psychodynamic factors and family systems theory.     

Nicotine dependence and withdrawal in alcoholic and nonalcoholic ever-smokers

We compared nicotine dependence and withdrawal in male alcoholic and control ever-smokers, controlling for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Alcoholics were more likely to meet criteria for moderate or severe nicotine dependence and endorse more nicotine dependence symptoms. Symptoms reported more frequently by alcoholics included: (a) using nicotine in larger amounts or over a longer time than intended; (b) continued use despite problems caused or exacerbated by nicotine; (c) marked tolerance; and (d) experiencing characteristic nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholics also smoked more heavily. Other than “headaches,” and “decreased heart rate,” alcoholics consistently endorsed nicotine withdrawal symptoms at a higher rate. After controlling for demographic and clinical variables and level of nicotine dependence, only “feel depressed” differed significantly between groups. Our research supports previous findings suggesting that nicotine dependence is more severe in those with a history of alcohol dependence. As a result, alcoholics may experience greater discomfort from nicotine withdrawal upon smoking cessation.     

Differences between urban and rural suicides

As part of a nation-wide psychological autopsy we examined the differences in DSM-III-R mental disorders, recent life events and other characteristics between urban (n=143) and rural (n=85) completed suicides in a random sample of 229 cases from the National Suicide Prevention Project in Finland for the period 1987-1988. Psychoactive substance use disorders (48% vs. 34%), cluster B personality disorders (24% vs. 9%) and psychiatric comorbidity (66% vs. 42%) were found more commonly among urban than rural suicides. Urban suicides were also more often reported to be preceded by a recent separation (25% vs. 8%), whereas rural suicide victims tended to have lacked a close companion of the opposite sex (36% vs. 18%) and to have had physical disorders (56% vs. 40%). Overall, urban and rural suicides may vary with regard to the prevalence of some mental disorders, their comorbidity, and physical disorders, as well as the preceding life situation. This variation may also imply the need for differences in strategies for suicide prevention in each setting.     

Alcohol Use among Subcritically Injured Emergency Department Patients

Objectives: To determine the incidence of alcohol use in subcritically injured patients presenting to the ED, by using a saliva alcohol test (SAT) at ED triage during the ED initial assessment; to compare the incidence of alcohol use revealed by the SAT with documentation of alcohol use by ED nurses and emergency physicians (EPs) blinded to the SAT results; and to describe the demographics of the SAT-positive, subcritically injured population.
Methods: A blinded, prospective, observational evaluation of ED patients presenting with subcritical injuries was performed. The patients were tested for alcohol use with an SAT, and a subsequent record review was conducted for extraction of demographic data and evidence of documentation of alcohol use by ED nurses and EPs blinded to the SAT results.
Results: During the study. 791 subcritically injured patients had SATs performed. Twenty-one percent of these patients were found to be alcohol-positive by SAT. Either the ED nurse or the EP documented a clinical impression of alcohol use for 52% of the SAT-positive patients. There were higher SAT-positive rates among men (24%), victims of assault (47%), and patients arriving at night (41%).
Conclusions: While the SAT identified 21% of the subcritically injured patient population as alcohol-positive, ED nurse and EP documentation did not identify half of these alcohol-positive patients. Many of these patients may be at risk for additional injuries related to their drinking behavior.     

New South Wales Nurse Education Project

Abstract: The development of a teaching package for nurse educators on drug and alcohol problems is described and the contents of its 16 modules outlined.     

慢性酒精中毒酒戒断的震颤谵妄发作危险因素探析

目的探讨慢性酒精中毒患者发生震颤谵妄(DT)的高危因素。方法把148例慢性酒精中毒患者按入院后是否出现震颤谵妄分为震颤谵妄组(DT)和非震颤谵妄组(NDT),观察他们的人口学资料(如性别、年龄、民族、婚姻状态等)、饮酒依赖史(饮酒的年限、饮酒品种、饮酒量、戒酒史等)、既往史、个人史、家族史、入院时的体征和症状(包括生命体征、戒断症状等)和身体状况等项目,描绘其临床特征,并对23项变量进行Logistic回归分析,筛选出慢性酒精中毒患者发生震颤谵妄的高危险因素。结果148例慢性酒精中毒患者在住院期间发生震颤谵妄者共28例(占18.92%)。Logistic regression model结果显示慢性酒中毒者入院后发生震颤谵妄的具有显著相关意义的5个解释变量,即入院时观察指标中的急性感染疾病、心动过速、紧张焦虑状态、精神运动性兴奋和肝功能异常。结论出现震颤谵妄的慢性酒精中毒患者与未发生震颤谵妄的慢性酒精中毒患者在入院时的临床特征存在差异,对慢性酒精中毒患者入院时及之后监测急性感染疾病、心动过速、精神运动性兴奋、紧张焦虑状态和肝功能异常等5个高危因素,有利于及时有效的干预。