Low Digit Ratio 2D∶4D in Alcohol Dependent Patients

Abstract

The ratio of the lengths of the second and fourth finger (2D∶4D) has been described as reflecting the degree of prenatal androgen exposure in humans. 2D∶4D is smaller for males than females and is associated with traits such as left-handedness, physical aggression, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and a genetic polymorphism of the androgen receptor. All of these traits are known to be correlated to the vulnerability for alcohol dependency. We therefore hypothesized low 2D∶4D in patients with alcohol dependency. In the present study on 131 patients suffering from alcohol dependency and 185 healthy volunteers, we found that alcohol dependent patients had smaller 2D∶4D ratios compared to controls with preserved sexual dimorphism but with reduced right-left differences. The detection of alcohol dependency based on 2D∶4D ratios was most accurate using the right hand of males (ROC-analysis: AUC 0.725, sensitivity 0.667, specificity 0.723). These findings provide novel insights into the role of prenatal androgen exposure in the development of alcohol dependency and for the use of 2D∶4D as a possible trait marker in identifying patients with alcohol dependency.

High testosterone levels and sensitivity to acute stress in perpetrators of domestic violence with low cognitive flexibility and impairments in their emotional decoding process: A preliminary study

“…A smaller or masculinized 2D:4D ratio, such as that of our IPV perpetrators, could be an indicator of the adoption of reckless behavior, such as alcohol or other drug abuse (Kornhuber et al, 2011). Despite the fact that not all men involved in domestic violence use alcohol or other toxics, a large percentage of men attack their partners under the effects of these substances (Pinto et al, 2010).…”

Low digit ratio (2D:4D) in male suicide victims

“…This study was part of the Finger Length in Psychiatry (FLIP) project of the Erlangen Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Kornhuber et al 2011, 2013). Between January 2012 and September 2014, we enrolled 71 corpses (estimated post-mortem interval until enrollment: 7 h–14 days) that were transferred to the Institute for Legal Medicine at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg for post-mortem examination.…”

“…We calculated repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements on the factor “hand” (right, left) and separate ANOVAs with R2D:4D, L2D:4D, and Dr-l as dependent variables. Status of alcohol dependence and weight status were included in the statistical models, because these factors are associated with both 2D:4D (Fink et al 2006; Han et al 2016; Kornhuber et al 2011; Oyeyemi et al 2014) and suicide rate (Perera et al 2016; WHO 2014). The variables of interest (“group,” suicide versus non-suicide; “method of suicide,” chemical versus physical) and the potential confounders (“quantification method,” scan versus photograph; “status of alcohol dependence,” alcohol-dependent versus not alcohol-dependent versus unknown; “weight status,” normal weight ≤25 mg/m 2 versus overweight >25 kg/m 2 ) were included in the models as fixed factors.…”

Digit ratio (2D:4D): A Potential Anatomical Biomarker for Predicting the risk of development of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

“…The digit ratio has also been associated by many authors with several characteristics such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia [10,29], developmental psychopathology, Autism and Aspergers syndrome [30], Down's syndrome [1], Physical aggression [31], Sperm counts [7,32], family size [33], age at myocardial infarction [34], good visualspatial ability [35], late menarche and time to pregnancy [36], eating disorders [37], fetal growth and birth weight [38][39][40], alcohol dependency [41], breast cancer [42][43], and prostate cancer risk [44][45]. Women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia who are genetically programmed to produce in utero androgens have masculine finger length patterns [10], commonly exhibit a PCOS-like syndrome with hypersecretion of luteinizing hormone and ovarian hyperandrogenism, suggesting prenatal testosterone excess as a possible PCOS etiology [46].…”