Chronic active heavy drinking and family history of problem drinking modulate regional brain tissue volumes

AbstractA group of naval personnel referred for alcohol problems was studied for a number of characteristics including sex, service status, age group, Branch, presenting factors, where serving, referral source, marital status, length of service and family history of alcohol abuse. They were compared with a control group of othernaval personnel.The alcohol referral group displayed a number of statistically significant differences from the control group. Junior rates, those aged below 20, communications branch personnel and those serving at sea were over represented. The alcohol referrals group were also more likely to be unmarried or divorced, and have a family history of alcohol abuse. Officers, Senior Rates and engineering branch personnel were under represented. With regard to male:female ratio, age group distribution over age 20 and length of service, there were no significant differences between the alcohol referral and control groups. The majority of alcohol referrals were made by Medical and Divisional Officers, the overwhelming reason being disciplinary action related to alcohol abuse.

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Multiple sclerosis and alcohol: a study of problem drinking

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1191/1352458504ms992oa ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 197-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Susan Quesnel ◽

Anthony Feinstein

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Family History ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Mood Disorders ◽

Problem Drinking ◽

Positive Family History ◽

Lifetime Prevalence ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are known to be at increased risk from mood disorders and suicidal ideation. A lthough these are often associated with alcohol disorders, the drinking habits of MS patients have not been well studied to date. O ur study assessed drinking patterns in 140 MS patients, focusing on a possible link between problem drinking and mood and anxiety disorders. Lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were ascertained using the Structured C linical Interview for DSM-IV disorders (SCID-IV). Results demonstrate that one in six MS patients drink to excess over the course of their lifetime. Those with a history of problem drinking display a higher lifetime prevalence of anxiety (P =0.006), but not mood disorders. There were also significant associations between problem drinking and a lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation (P =0.006), substance abuse (P =0.001), and a family history of mental illness (P =0.008). C linicians should be aware of the possibility of problem drinking in MS patients, and how this may complicate the course of their disease. C lues to problem drinking in MS patients are the presence of a positive family history of mental illness and prominent anxiety.

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Alcohol Problems among Women Working in the Home: Prevalence and Predictors

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.3109/00048678309161282 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 259-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

S. Jane Chetwynd ◽

Verna Pearson

Keyword(s):

Problem Drinking ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Drinking Behaviour ◽

Life Changes ◽

Problem Drinkers ◽

Major Life ◽

History Of

A sample of 655 women was contacted whilst attending general practitioners' surgeries and questioned on numerous health and social matters. Follow-up interviews were held a year later in the women's homes and information on drinking behaviour and problems with drinking obtained. Almost 15% of the sample could be classified as problem drinkers on the basis of their responses to a ‘problems with drinking’ scale. Seven major variables were identified as being associated with problem drinking amongst these women. These included familial history of heavy drinking, depression, stress level, major life changes, reported alcohol consumption, usual type of leisure activities and abuse of substances such as coffee and tobacco which can result in dependency. Likelihood of problem drinking increased substantially with the number of adverse factors reported. It was concluded that knowledge of these factors would help the general practitioner in the identification of women with alcohol problems.

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