Characterization of a human model of chronic-heavy-intermittent-drinking

Authors

• LR Arcurio
• ML Schwandt
• X Zhu
• RM Momenan
• L Leggio

Abstract

In 2013, 16.6 million adults in the United States reported having an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and globally, alcohol misuse is the number one risk factor for premature death and disability among people between the ages of 15 and 49. Currently, the DSM-V recognizes AUD as falling on a continuum to account for the many different drinking phenotypes associated with functional impairment. However, many drinking phenotypes have not been characterized in depth to include associated psychological measures, blood biomarkers, genomics, and neural connectomics. In the present study we characterize a human model of chronic-heavy-intermittent-drinking (CHID) using the Time-Line-Follow-Back (TLFB), where the drinking phenotype is mostly described by cycles of heavy drinking (consuming more than 4 or 5 standard drinks per day in females or males, respectively) and abstinence that are repeated for at least three months. We describe the drinking patterns, demographics, psychological measures, blood biomarkers and associated patterns of resting-state connectivity in humans who show a pattern of chronic-heavy-intermittent-drinking compared to those of light-social drinkers and constant-heavy drinkers. The psychological and biological characterization of persons with distinct drinking phenotypes can lead to more targeted, personalized, and effective treatments for AUD.

Scientific Focus Area: Social and Behavioral Sciences

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