N4 component responses to pre-pulse startle stimuli in young adults: Relationship to alcohol dependence

Journal of Psychiatric Research

et al. 2016

Mexican Americans comprise one of the most rapidly growing populations in the United States, and within this population, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with physical and mental health problems. Therefore, efforts to delineate factors that may uniquely contribute to increased likelihood of trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorders over the lifetime in Mexican Americans are important to address health disparities and to develop treatment and prevention programs. Six hundred fourteen young adults (age 18–30 yrs) of Mexican American heritage, largely second generation, were recruited from the community and assessed with the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism and an acculturation stress scale. More males (51.2%) reported experiencing traumas than females (41.1%), however, a larger proportion of females received a PTSD diagnosis (15%) than males (8%). Alcohol dependence and affective disorders, but not anxiety disorders, antisocial disorders, nicotine, marijuana, or stimulant dependence, were significantly comorbid with PTSD. Endorsing higher levels of acculturation stress was also significantly associated with both trauma exposure and a diagnosis of PTSD. Logistic regression revealed that female gender, having an affective disorder, alcohol dependence, higher levels of acculturation stress, and lower levels of education were all predictors of PTSD status. Additionally, alcohol dependence generally occurred after the PTSD diagnosis in early adulthood in this high-risk population. These studies suggest that treatment and prevention efforts should particularly focus on young adult second generation Mexican American women with higher levels of acculturation stress, who may be at higher risk for PTSD, affective disorder, and alcohol dependence following trauma exposure.

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Lifetime history of traumatic events in a young adult Mexican American sample: Relation to substance dependence, affective disorder, acculturation stress, and PTSD

Ehlers

Kim

Journal of Psychiatric Research

et al. 2016

“…We have previously reported the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors including alcohol abuse and dependence in this sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans (e.g., [4, 26–29]). However, our current results show that the incidence of alcohol and tobacco use and dependence is not different between obese and nonobese participants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We have previously reported the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors including obesity and alcohol abuse and dependence in a community sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans residing in San Diego County (e.g., [4, 26–29]). There is also evidence to suggest a relationship between these cardiovascular risk factors and reduced cardiovagal control ([30–38]; but see [39]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obesity in American Indian and Mexican American Men and Women: Associations with Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Autonomic Control

Criado

Cardiovascular Psychiatry and Neurology

Kalafut

et al. 2013

Obesity is a serious public health problem, especially in some minority communities, and it has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. While obesity is a serious health concern in both American Indian and Mexican American populations, the relationship between obesity and cardiac autonomic control in these two populations is not well understood. The present study in a selected sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans assessed associations between obesity, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular autonomic control. Cardiovascular autonomic control, systolic and diastolic mean BP, and body mass index were obtained from one hundred thirty-two American Indian and Mexican American men and women who are literate in English and are residing legally in San Diego County. Men had a significant greater systolic and diastolic BP and were more likely to develop systolic prehypertension and hypertension than women. Obese participants showed greater mean heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic BP than nonobese participants. Obese men also exhibited greater cardiac sympathetic activity and lower cardiovagal control than obese women. These results suggest that obesity and gender differences in cardiovascular autonomic control may contribute to risk for cardiovascular disorders in this sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans.

“…The present report is part of a larger study exploring risk factors for substance dependence among Native Americans and Mexican Americans residing in southwest California (Ehlers et al, 2004a,b, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010a,b, 2011). Although use of alcohol varies among tribes, as a whole, Native Americans suffer high rates of alcohol and drug dependence and higher alcohol-related death rates than any other U.S. ethnic group and alcohol dependence rates up to five times that of the general U.S. population (see Beals et al, 2005; Ehlers et al, 2004a, 2006; Robin et al, 1998; Shalala et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations Between a History of Binge Drinking During Adolescence and Self-Reported Responses to Alcohol in Young Adult Native and Mexican Americans

Ehlers

Stouffer

2014

Alcohol Clin Exp Res

BACKGROUND Binge drinking during adolescence is common and may predict increased drinking in young adulthood and enhanced risk for alcohol dependence. Variation in level of response to the hedonic and adverse effects of alcohol is in part an inherited factor that may also influence its use, abuse and dependence. The present study investigated, in young adults, whether an association could be demonstrated between variation in self-reported responses to alcohol and a history of binge drinking during adolescence. METHODS Young adult (18–30 yrs, n=790) Native Americans and Mexican Americans were recruited from the community and completed a structured diagnostic interview. Response to alcohol was indexed using the expectation version of the Subjective High Assessment Scale (SHAS-E). An adolescent history of regular binge drinking was defined as drinking 5 or more drinks for boys and 4 or more drinks for girls per drinking occasion at least once a month during their highest drinking period prior to the age of 18. RESULTS An adolescent history of regular binge drinking was found to be associated with a lower level of self-reported responses to the negative aspects of alcohol intoxication (feeling terrible) as well as to the overall level of intoxication, but not to the positive impressions of intoxication (feeling great) on the SHAS-E. A history of regular adolescent binge drinking was also correlated with less feelings of the “terrible” and “total” effects of alcohol, as indexed by the SHAS-E, in a linear regression model that included several diagnostic and demographic variables such as a history of conduct disorder and current levels of drinking. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that a history of adolescent binge drinking is associated with a reduction in the self-reported level of intoxication in young adulthood, a factor that could theoretically lead to increased risk for alcohol dependence.