Twin, family, and adoption studies have consistently shown that genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence. Numerous studies have aimed to identify genes that contribute to susceptibility to alcohol dependence. Whole-genome linkage studies have identified several chromosomal regions that are linked with alcohol dependence. Association studies have also iden...

BACKGROUND To describe the prevalence of alcohol dependence and to explore the relationship between alcohol dependence and newly detected hypertension in China. METHODS A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used to obtain samples from February to June 2013. The Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test was used to estimate alcohol dependence level. A standard questionnaire measured oth...

BACKGROUND Several lines of evidence in both human and animal studies suggest that variation in neuropeptide Y (NPY) or its receptor genes (NPY1R, NPY2R and NPY5R) is associated with alcohol dependence as well as alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Additional studies suggest that cocaine may affect NPY expression. METHODS A total of 39 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped across NPY...

BACKGROUND In DSM-IV, an alcohol abuse diagnosis is preempted by dependence, although the symptoms of each disorder are different. Consequently, little is known about the extent to which dependence occurs with or without abuse. The distinction is important because of potential heterogeneity in dependence as a phenotype in genetic research, as well as potential underestimation of alcohol depende...

INTRODUCTION Craving is being considered for inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) DSM-5. However, little is known of its genetic underpinnings - specifically, whether genetic influences on craving are distinct from those influencing DSM-IV alcohol dependence. METHOD Analyses were conducted in a sample of unrelated adults ascertained for alcohol dependence (N=3976). Factor ...

BACKGROUND The significant association between alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)-2 genotype and alcohol-dependence risk, demonstrated in both Asian and non-Asian populations, suggests a link between the metabolism of alcohol (ethanol) and individual differences in susceptibility to dependence. METHODS We tested this hypothesis by following up on subjects who took part in the Alcohol Challenge Twin ...

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether common affective disorders and anxiety disorders increase the risk of alcohol dependence and alcohol misuse. Aims To investigate whether affective disorders and anxiety disorders increase the risk of alcohol dependence and alcohol misuse. METHOD This study is a retrospective cohort study based on data collected from the 2007 Australia Mental Health and Well-Be...

Personality disorders, and particularly antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), frequently co-occur with alcohol dependence. ASPD is considered to be an important cofactor in the pathogenesis and clinical course of alcohol dependence. The chronological relationship between the onset of symptoms of ASPD and alcohol-dependence characteristics has not yet been studied in great detail and the role ...

OBJECTIVES To determine the point prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence among practicing surgeons. DESIGN Cross-sectional study with data gathered through a 2010 survey. SETTING The United States of America. PARTICIPANTS Members of the American College of Surgeons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Alcohol abuse and dependence. RESULTS Of 25,073 surgeons sampled, 7197 (28.7%) completed the s...