Heart rate stress response dampening: The impact of alcohol, family history, and gender on at risk children and siblings

ObjectiveIn the following study we tested the stress response dampening (SRD) model which postulates that stress responses are more likely to be attenuated by alcohol in individuals at risk for alcohol dependence than in persons without that risk. In a laboratory experiment we examined a) if SRD effects exist for both sons and healthy daughters of alcohol dependent fathers, and b) if SRD effects exist for siblings of alcohol dependent males.MethodsWe recruited 104 subjects at risk and 51 matched control subjects. In a laboratory experiment, study subjects received alcohol in one of two laboratory sessions and a stress paradigm served to elicit heart rate stress responses.ResultsHeart rate stress responses were attenuated by alcohol in female family history positive (FHP) and female family history negative (FHN) subjects, however not in males. A multiple regression analysis revealed “Heart Rate Stress Response in the Non-Alcohol Condition” and “Blood Alcohol Level” as significant predictors of SRD.ConclusionsAccording to our findings, females carry a distinct risk for developing alcohol dependence, regardless of their family history and regardless of their degree of familial relationship. This is an important issue for devising models concerning the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence in females. The study extends the current research literature, which mainly focuses on male subjects at risk, by including female subjects at risk, as well as siblings at risk of both genders.

Research Highlights
► We recruited 104 subjects at risk and 51 matched control subjects.
► Study subjects received alcohol in one of two laboratory sessions.
► A stress paradigm served to elicit heart rate stress responses.
► Heart rate stress responses were attenuated by alcohol in females, but not in males.
► Females carry a distinct risk for developing alcohol dependence.