Family History of Alcoholism Does Not Influence Adrenocortical Hyporesponsiveness in Abstinent Alcohol-Dependent Men
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Volume 34, Issue 2 March 2008 , pages 151 - 160


Early abstinence in alcohol-dependent subjects is marked by adrenocortical hyporesponsivity. However, it is uncertain whether the blunted response is primarily attributable to a genetic vulnerability or to the chronic abuse of alcohol.

In the present study, the authors investigated the influence of a family history (FH) of alcoholism upon suppressed glucocorticoid reactivity.

Neither a parental history or familial loading of alcoholism had a significant effect upon glucocorticoid responsivity in abstinent alcohol-dependent men.

Adrenocorticol responsiveness in recently abstinent alcohol-dependent men does not appear to reflect a preexisting biologic vulnerability to alcoholism.

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