Family History of Alcoholism in Women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Who Have Premenstrual Syndrome: Patient Reports of Premenstrual Alcohol Consumption and Symptoms of Anxiety

Abstract

This study sought to determine whether family history of alcoholism is related to patient reports of premenstrual alcohol consumption and whether family history of alcoholism is related to severity of anxiety-related symptoms, in women who suffer simultaneously from both premenstrual syndrome and generalized anxiety disorder. Fifty-four women with generalized anxiety disorder and prospectively demonstrated premenstrual syndrome were questioned about family history of alcoholism and alcohol consumption patterns across the menstrual cycle. Seventy-six percent of the sample reported having an alcoholic first- or second-degree relative. Furthermore, 74% of those women having a paternal-side family history of alcoholism, but only 22% of those without such a family history, reported increased alcohol consumption premenstrually. Forty-one of these women were assessed by means of psychiatric rating scales during both the premenstrual and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle. During the premenstrual, but not the follicular, phase of the menstrual cycle, women with a paternal-side family history of alcoholism experienced more severe anxiety-related somatic, but not psychic, symptoms of anxiety, than those without such a family history. These findings suggest that family history of alcoholism may be related to premenstrual alcohol consumption patterns and to the severity of premenstrually experienced somatic symptoms of anxiety in women with premenstrual syndrome, and that these women may be self-medicating with alcohol.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking and Family History of Alcoholism on Sweet Taste Perception and Food Cravings in Women

“…They were also more likely to be alcoholics and have a history of alcoholism in their family. The high frequency of FH+ among smokers in the present study is remarkably similar to a recent report from the San Diego Prospective Study (74%; Schuckit et al, 2007) as well as a study of nonalcoholic women with generalized anxiety disorders (76%; McLeod et al, 1994).…”

“…Based on these criteria, women who had a first and/or second-degree relative with a history of alcoholism are hereafter referred to as FH+, whereas those who had no history of alcoholism in 2 generations are hereafter referred to as FH−. Both first-and second-degree relatives were included since previous studies suggested that the presence or absence of a firstdegree relative may be too narrow (McLeod et al, 1994). The incidence of women with only a first-degree relative with a history of alcoholism in this sample was 29% for current smokers and 14% for never smokers.…”

“…The Family Interview for Genetic Studies was conducted to detect alcoholism according to the DSM III criteria for family members up to second-degree relatives (McLeod et al, 1994;Nurnberger et al, 1994) for all but 4 subjects because they lacked information on some of their family members. Based on these criteria, women who had a first and/or second-degree relative with a history of alcoholism are hereafter referred to as FH+, whereas those who had no history of alcoholism in 2 generations are hereafter referred to as FH−.…”

A new meaning for “Gin & Tonic”: tonic inhibition as the target for ethanol action in the brain

“…Consistent with the common involvement of the δ subunit-containing GABA A Rs in ovariancycle related anxiety and in mediating the effects of ethanol, women with PMS have increase their alcohol consumption during the luteal phase (Charette et al, 1990;Tobin et al, 1994;McLeod et al, 1994;Perry et al, 2004), which may be an indication of self-medication since, as shown above, the function of δ subunit-containing GABA A Rs and the tonic inhibition mediated by these receptors are enhanced by sobriety-impairing concentrations of ethanol.…”

Mood and Performance Changes in Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Acute Effects of Alprazolam

“…Even though benzodiazepines are prescribed to women almost twice as often as to men (Woods et al 1992), there is relatively little information regarding the effects, including potential abuse liability, of these drugs in women. Several clinical studies and surveys suggest that women with moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms tend to drink more premenstrually, purportedly to self-medicate their dysphoric symptoms, and may be at increased risk for developing alcoholism (e.g., Podolsky 1963;Price et al 1987;McLeod et al 1994). Nonalcoholic women with premenstrual symptoms have been shown to increase their alcohol consumption premenstrually under controlled laboratory conditions (Mello et al 1990).…”