Subjective Perceptions Associated with the Ascending and Descending Slopes of Breath Alcohol Exposure Vary with Recent Drinking History

Abstract

Background The Differentiator Model predicts that individuals with a positive family history of alcoholism or heavy alcohol consumers will feel more sensitive to the effects of alcohol on the ascending phase of the blood alcohol content while feeling less sedated on the descending phase. This study tested if subjective perceptions are sensitive to the slope of breath alcohol concentration and if that sensitivity is associated with a family history of alcoholism (FHA) and/or recent drinking history (RDH). Methods Family history positive (FHP, N=27) and family history negative (FHN, N=27) young adult non-dependent drinkers were infused intravenously with alcohol in 2 sessions separated by one week. After 20 minutes, one session had an ascending BrAC (+3.0mg% per min) while the other session had a descending BrAC (−1 mg% per min). The BrAC for both sessions at this point was approximately 60 mg%, referred to as the crossover point. Subjective perceptions of intoxication, high, stimulated, and sedation were sampled frequently, then interpolated to the crossover point. Within-subject differences between ascending and descending responses were examined for associations with FHA and/or RDH. Results Recent moderate drinkers reported increased perceptions of feeling intoxicated (p<0.023) and high (p<0.023) on the ascending slope compared to the descending slope. In contrast, recent light drinkers felt more intoxicated and high on the descending slope. Conclusion Subjective perceptions in young adult social drinkers depend on the slope of the BrAC when examined in association with RDH. These results support the Differentiator Model hypothesis concerning the ascending slope and suggest that moderate alcohol consumers could be at risk for increased alcohol consumption because they feel more intoxicated and high on the ascending slope. Subjects did not feel less sedated on the descending slope, contrary to the Differentiator Model but replicating several previous studies.

Vulnerability for Alcohol Use Disorder and Rate of Alcohol Consumption

“…Level of response to alcohol may have been influenced by recall bias and may have shown more predictive power if it had been assessed experimentally as in Schuckit and colleagues’ original studies (22). Despite some evidence that level of response may vary as a function of rate of change in blood alcohol concentration and drinking history (37; 38), we chose to use a simpler static measure of level of response here. More complex assessments of level of response may yield different results.…”

A prospective study of genetic factors, human laboratory phenotypes, and heavy drinking in late adolescence

“…Some theories propose that the ability of stimulant or sedative effects to discriminate AUD risk differs as a function of ascending versus descending blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limb (Newlin and Thomson, 1990), underscoring the importance of controlling BAC parameters when characterizing laboratory responses (Newlin and Renton, 2010; Quinn and Fromme, 2011). Because accurate control over BAC profiles is difficult in oral alcohol administration paradigms, owing largely to inter-individual differences in alcohol absorption and distribution kinetics, behavioral and neuroimaging studies have increasingly utilized intravenous alcohol administration as a means of maximizing pharmacokinetic control (e.g., Wetherill et al , 2012; Zimmermann et al , 2013). …”

Adaptation of Subjective Responses to Alcohol is Affected by an Interaction of GABRA2 Genotype and Recent Drinking

“…Morzorati et al, 2002; Schuckit and Smith, 1996) though several studies have not (e.g. (Kerfoot et al, 2013; Wetherill et al, 2012). It is possible that in the present study, the genotypic effects of GABRA2 accounted for much of the variability in the acute adaptation of subjective perceptions, and that family history did not account for a substantial portion of the remaining variability.…”

“…Subjects responded to 7 questions using a computerized visual analog scale (Figure 2), as implemented in past studies (Morzorati et al, 2002; Ramchandani et al, 2002; Wetherill et al, 2012). Six of the 7 questions included a term followed by several dictionary-derived synonyms intended to provide subjects with a common understanding.…”