Do men with excessive alcohol consumption and social stability have an addictive personality?

The existence of an "addictive" personality has been extensively debated. The current study investigated personality in male individuals with excessive alcohol consumption (n=100) in comparison to a population-based control group (n=131). The individuals with excessive alcohol consumption were recruited by advertisements in a regional daily newspaper and controls from a population based Swedish Twin Registry.

Different effects of smoking or use of smokeless tobacco on platelet MAO-B activity in type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects.

Background: Low platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B activity has been proposed as a marker for alcohol-dependence. Findings are, however, contradictory and the influence of confounding factors have been thoroughly investigated. Thus, it is now well established that cigarette smoking reduces platelet MAO-activity.

Tobacco use is associated with more severe alcohol dependence, as assessed by the number of DSM-IV criteria, in Swedish male type 1 alcoholics.

Background: A high smoking prevalence has been reported in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals. It has also been suggested that alcohol-dependent individuals who smoke may have a more severe course and greater severity of their alcoholism.

Methods: This study evaluated the impact of tobacco use in 108 Swedish male type 1 alcohol-dependent individuals, recruited by advertisement in a local daily newspaper.

The taqI DRD2 A1 allele is associated with alcohol-dependence although its effect size is small.

Background: Numerous studies of the relationship between the TaqIA DRD2 A1 allele and alcohol-dependence have been performed and many of these have shown an association whereas others have not (Noble, 2003). This has consequently generated some controversy as to whether such an association actually exists (Noble, 2003). In the two recent meta-analyses by Noble (2003) and Young et al.

Individuals with excessive alcohol intake recruited by advertisement: demographic and clinical characteristics.

Aims: Studies have shown that most individuals with alcohol problems have never received any treatment for their alcoholism. The purpose of the present study was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics in male individuals with excessive alcohol intake who were recruited by advertisements. These characteristics were compared between individuals with or without prior treatment histories.

Changes in mental well-being during Minnesota treatment.

The present study assessed mental well-being daily in 28 alcohol-dependent patients who underwent 28 days of Minnesota inpatient treatment. The Swedish Mood Adjective Check List (sMACL) with six bipolar dimensions was used for daily self-reports. At start of treatment, patients had lower levels in four dimensions of mental well-being compared to those of a norm group.

Tobacco use is associated with reduced central serotonergic neurotransmission in type 1 alcohol-dependent individuals.

Background: Reduced central serotonergic neurotransmission in alcohol dependence may be attributed to the effects of cigarette smoking (and possibly more specifically to nicotine) rather than to alcoholism or its subtypes. The aim of the present study was therefore to compare central serotonergic neurotransmission in tobacco-using (cigarette smokers and users of smokeless tobacco, i.e.

Subnormal alpha-2-adrenoceptor-mediated sedation during 6 months of sobriety in male type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects.

Aims: In the present study, alpha(2)-adrenoceptor function was investigated over 6 months of sobriety in eight male alcohol-dependent subjects.

Methods: Subjects were investigated with repeated clonidine (CLON, 2 micro g/kg body weight intravenously) challenge tests at days 1 and 7, and months 2 and 6 after the end of a period of heavy alcohol intake. CLON-induced sedation was rated at challenge tests.

Extremely long recovery time for the sedative effect of clonidine in male type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects in full sustained remission.

The possible relation between alpha-2-adrenoceptor function-as assessed by changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, as well as level of sedation, after administration of clonidine (2.0 microg/kg, i.v.

Platelet monoamine oxidase B in family history positive and family history negative type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects.

Aims And Methods: In the present study platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity was investigated in 76 male type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects with and without a family history of alcoholism.

Results: Platelet MAO-B activity did not differ between family history positive (FHP) and family history negative alcohol-dependent subjects. The smoking status of the subjects was registered and there was still no difference between the groups when possible effects of smoking were taken into account.

Platelet monoamine oxidase-B activity in type 1 alcohol-dependent subjects in sustained full remission.

Aims: The present study investigated platelet monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity in male alcohol-dependent subjects in sustained full remission (minimum 1 year), to exclude possible transient changes in platelet MAO-B activity, which occur up to several months after the end of alcohol intake.

Methods: MAO-B activity was examined in 16 alcohol-dependent subjects, characterized as type 1 alcoholics, with an abstinence period of 6 +/- 7 years (mean +/- SD) and in 12 healthy controls.

Results: The long-term abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects did not differ from controls in platelet MAO-B activity.

Mental well-being in subjects with long-term excessive alcohol consumption: an experimental study.

Daily self-reports on six dimensions of mental well-being, with the use of the Swedish Mood Adjective Check List (sMACL), were investigated in 61 socially stable and physically and mentally healthy subjects with long-term excessive alcohol consumption (113 +/- 42 g of pure alcohol daily) during a 7-week study. At the start of the study, all subjects had low levels of mental well-being compared with those for a norm group, most markedly among those who did not complete the study period (n = 20). At the end of the investigation, subjects who completed the study (n = 41) had levels of mental well-being similar to those of a norm group.

Is long-term heavy alcohol consumption toxic for brain serotonergic neurons? Relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and serotonergic neurotransmission.

The relationship between years of excessive alcohol consumption and central serotonergic neurotransmission, as assessed by the prolactin (PRL) response to D-fenfluramine, was investigated in 22 male alcohol-dependent subjects. A negative correlation was obtained, that is, the longer duration of excessive alcohol consumption the lower PRL response to D-fenfluramine. It is therefore suggested that long duration of excessive alcohol consumption in alcohol-dependent subjects causes a reduction in central serotonergic neurotransmission, possibly by a toxic effect of alcohol on serotonin neurons.