Family history of alcohol dependence modulates functional neurophysiology in mood/anxiety disorders

Abstract

This study demonstrates subtle impairments during planning in FH+ compared with FH- patients and HCs, whereas activation during mood-incongruent stimuli in FH+ patients was similar to HCs but not FH- patients, suggesting that the presence of a FH of AD is a useful marker for the neurophysiological profile in mood/anxiety disorders and possible predictor for treatment success.

Fifteen years of NESDA Neuroimaging: An overview of results related to clinical profile and bio-social risk factors of major depressive disorder and common anxiety disorders

“…Similar results have been observed in drinking and non-drinking adolescents with a family history of alcohol dependence (Benegal et al, 2007;De Bellis et al, 2005). Therefore, the findings of Sjoerds et al (2013) suggest that abnormal parahippocampal volume represents a biologically persistent vulnerability for alcohol use disorders, and is not the result of neurotoxic effects of alcohol or delayed brain maturation.…”

“…Family history of alcohol use disorders: A family history of alcohol dependence enhances susceptibility for mood and anxiety disorders and the neurocognitive basis for this predisposition has been studied within NESDA on both functional and structural levels. Sjoerds et al (2013) demonstrated slower performance and increased dorsal prefrontal activation during planning, and altered insula activation when processing positive emotional words in MDD patients with a family history of alcohol dependence compared to those without, suggesting that the presence of family history contributes to the neurophysiological risk profile of mood/anxiety disorders via affecting cognitive control and processing of positive material. Furthermore, it was observed that MDD patients with a positive family history of alcohol dependence showed lower volume of the right parahippocampal gyrus, also when controlled for severity of current symptomatology, childhood emotional maltreatment and a family history of depression and/or anxiety disorders (Sjoerds et al, 2013).…”

“…Sjoerds et al (2013) demonstrated slower performance and increased dorsal prefrontal activation during planning, and altered insula activation when processing positive emotional words in MDD patients with a family history of alcohol dependence compared to those without, suggesting that the presence of family history contributes to the neurophysiological risk profile of mood/anxiety disorders via affecting cognitive control and processing of positive material. Furthermore, it was observed that MDD patients with a positive family history of alcohol dependence showed lower volume of the right parahippocampal gyrus, also when controlled for severity of current symptomatology, childhood emotional maltreatment and a family history of depression and/or anxiety disorders (Sjoerds et al, 2013). Similar results have been observed in drinking and non-drinking adolescents with a family history of alcohol dependence (Benegal et al, 2007;De Bellis et al, 2005).…”

Preconception Alcohol Increases Offspring Vulnerability to Stress

“…The results presented here suggest the intriguing, and potentially alarming, possibility that exposure to alcohol produces transmissible long-lasting epigenetic changes that result in profound alterations to the physiology of the offspring. In this regard, it is interesting to note that increased anxiety in humans is often correlated with alcohol consumption and that alcohol use/abuse does run in families (Kendler et al, 2015;Sjoerds et al, 2013;Morean et al, 2009). These human data tie the data of our present study in animal model in a translational way.…”

Time perspective and family history of alcohol dependence moderate the effect of depression on alcohol dependence: A study in Chinese psychiatric clinics

“…A family history of alcohol dependence generally predicts the presence of AD among probands. Moreover, studies have supported the notion that a positive family history of AD may be associated with a higher risk for AD and contribute to a higher probability of psychiatric disorders other than AD, such as depressive disorders (Sjoerds et al, 2013 ). A family history of AUD in patients with AD would lead to severe physical problems and high levels of antisocial behavior (Milne et al, 2009 ).…”