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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sara Minsky, MPH¹, Donald Allensworth-Davies, MSc², Jacey Greece, MPH³, Alissa Almeida, MPH¹, Damaris Rohsenow, PhD⁴, Todd Arnedt, PhD⁵, and Jonathan Howland, PhD¹. (1) Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T- 2W, Boston, MA 02118, 617 638-5065, sminsky@bu.edu, (2) Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, 580, Boston, MA 02118, (3) Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, T- 2W, Boston, MA 02118, (4) Center of Alcohol and Addictions Studies, Brown University, 345 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence, RI 02912, (5) Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 2101 Commonwealth Boulevard, Suite D, Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Background: Experimental studies comparing those with and without a family history (FH) of alcohol problems have found that both subjective and objective response measures to acute alcohol exposure are diminished among those FH+¹. A pilot survey of college-age sons of alcoholic/non-alcoholic fathers found FH+ sons were more apt to experience hangover².

Methods: We combined data from two randomized crossover trials on the residual effects of heavy drinking on next-day reaction time (RT) (measured by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test [PVT)³] to determine whether FH moderates RT. Participants received beverage alcohol targeting .10 g% blood alcohol level (BAC). FH+ was defined as having a first or second degree relative who was a problem drinker. Data were collected using the validated Family Tree Questionnaire for FH of alcohol problems⁴. Moderation was assessed using methods recommended by Baron and Kenny (1986)⁵.

Results: 120 participants (mean age: 23, range 21-33; 60% female; 31% FH+) received alcohol and placebo one week apart with maximum BAC of .11g% (range: 0.08-0.16). Following alcohol, median next-day RT (milliseconds) was greater than under placebo (223.7 ± 25.7 vs. 216.6 ± 22.7, p<0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in median RT under alcohol condition between FH+/FH- participants (220.1 ±26.9 and 226.7 ± 24.8, p=.1913). In moderator analysis, we found no differential effect of alcohol on median RT as a function of FH.

Discussion: FH does not appear to moderate the residual effects of heavy drinking on next-day RT.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize previous research showing diminished response to acute alcohol exposure among those positive for family history of alcohol problems.
• Describe the effects of heavy drinking on next day sustained attention/reaction time.
• Discuss the role of family history of alcohol problems as a possible moderator of the effect of alcohol on day-after drinking performance.

Keywords: Alcohol, Performance Measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered