Differential predictors for alcohol use in adolescents as a function of familial risk

Abstract: Traditional models of future alcohol use in adolescents have used variable-centered approaches, predicting alcohol use from a set of variables across entire samples or populations. Following the proposition that predictive factors may vary in adolescents as a function of family history, we used a two-pronged approach by first defining clusters of familial risk, followed by prediction analyses within each cluster. Thus, for the first time in adolescents, we tested whether adolescents with a family history of drug abuse exhibit a set of predictors different from adolescents without a family history. We apply this approach to a genetic risk score and individual differences in personality, cognition, behavior (risk-taking and discounting) substance use behavior at age 14, life events, and functional brain imaging, to predict scores on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) at age 14 and 16 in a sample of adolescents (N = 1659 at baseline, N = 1327 at follow-up) from the IMAGEN cohort, a longitudinal community-based cohort of adolescents. In the absence of familial risk (n = 616), individual differences in baseline drinking, personality measures (extraversion, negative thinking), discounting behaviors, life events, and ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, while the overall model explained 22% of the variance in future AUDIT. In the presence of familial risk (n = 711), drinking behavior at age 14, personality measures (extraversion, impulsivity), behavioral risk-taking, and life events were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, explaining 20.1% of the overall variance. Results suggest that individual differences in personality, cognition, life events, brain function, and drinking behavior contribute differentially to the prediction of future alcohol misuse. This approach may inform more individualized preventive interventions

Differential predictors for alcohol use in adolescents as a function of familial risk

Abstract: Traditional models of future alcohol use in adolescents have used variable-centered approaches, predicting alcohol use from a set of variables across entire samples or populations. Following the proposition that predictive factors may vary in adolescents as a function of family history, we used a two-pronged approach by first defining clusters of familial risk, followed by prediction analyses within each cluster. Thus, for the first time in adolescents, we tested whether adolescents with a family history of drug abuse exhibit a set of predictors different from adolescents without a family history. We apply this approach to a genetic risk score and individual differences in personality, cognition, behavior (risk-taking and discounting) substance use behavior at age 14, life events, and functional brain imaging, to predict scores on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) at age 14 and 16 in a sample of adolescents (N = 1659 at baseline, N = 1327 at follow-up) from the IMAGEN cohort, a longitudinal community-based cohort of adolescents. In the absence of familial risk (n = 616), individual differences in baseline drinking, personality measures (extraversion, negative thinking), discounting behaviors, life events, and ventral striatal activation during reward anticipation were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, while the overall model explained 22% of the variance in future AUDIT. In the presence of familial risk (n = 711), drinking behavior at age 14, personality measures (extraversion, impulsivity), behavioral risk-taking, and life events were significantly associated with future AUDIT scores, explaining 20.1% of the overall variance. Results suggest that individual differences in personality, cognition, life events, brain function, and drinking behavior contribute differentially to the prediction of future alcohol misuse. This approach may inform more individualized preventive interventions

Predictive utility of the NEO-FFI for later development of substance use among 16-year-old adolescents

Einleitung: Substanzkonsum manifestiert sich häufig bereits im jugendlichen Alter. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersuchte mithilfe des NEO-Fünf-Faktoren- Inventars (NEO-FFI) die Bedeutung von Persönlichkeit für die Entwicklung von späterem Nikotin-, Alkohol- und Cannabiskonsum. Besonderes Interesse galt dabei den Ausprägungen der Dimensionen Neurotizismus, Verträglichkeit sowie Gewissenhaftigkeit und deren prädiktive Bedeutung für Substanzerfahrung und Substanzkonsum. Methoden: Die zu untersuchenden Daten entstammen der Baseline- Untersuchung und dem Follow-up 1 der IMAGEN-Studie, einem europaweiten multizentrischen und multidisziplinären Forschungsvorhaben zur Untersuchung der psychischen Gesundheit von Jugendlichen. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurden 1004 Jugendliche untersucht. Eine Charakterisierung der Persönlichkeit wurde mit dem NEO-FFI mit 14 Jahren (T1) durchgeführt. Der Substanzkonsum der Jugendlichen wurde mithilfe des European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) mit 16 Jahren (T2) erfasst. Bei der statistischen Analyse fanden T-Tests und univariate Varianzanalysen Anwendung. Ergebnisse: Für die Ausprägung der Dimension Neurotizismus zu T1 ergab sich kein prädiktiver Wert für Substanzerfahrung und Substanzkonsum zu T2. Probanden, die zu T1 eine signifikant geringere Ausprägung der Dimension Verträglichkeit als andere Probanden aufwiesen, waren zu T2 häufiger tabakerfahren oder Tabakkonsumenten. Für die Ausprägung von Verträglichkeit zu T1 ergab sich kein prädiktiver Wert für Alkoholerfahrung, Alkoholkonsum, Cannabiserfahrung und Cannabiskonsum zu T2. Probanden, die zu T1 eine signifikant geringere Ausprägung der Dimension Gewissenhaftigkeit als andere Probanden aufwiesen, waren zu T2 häufiger Tabakerfahrene, Tabakkonsumenten, Alkoholerfahrene, Cannabiserfahrene oder Cannabiskonsumenten. Für die Ausprägung von Gewissenhaftigkeit zu T1 ergab sich kein prädiktiver Wert für Alkoholkonsum zu T2. Schlussfolgerung: Der NEO- FFI kann zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt nicht als prädiktives Instrument für späteren Substanzkonsum bei Jugendlichen genutzt werden. Von allen Dimensionen des NEO- Fünf-Faktoren-Modells der Persönlichkeit bietet Gewissenhaftigkeit bei geringer Ausprägung den stärksten prädiktiven Wert für spätere Substanzerfahrung und Substanzkonsum. Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine Untersuchung zum prädiktiven Nutzen des NEO-FFI für späteren Substanzkonsum bei einer europaweit nationenübergreifenden, jugendlichen Studienpopulation dar. Es wäre sinnvoll in weiteren Studien den kausalen Zusammenhang von Persönlichkeit für Substanzkonsum zu verifizieren, um dadurch individuelle Präventions- und Behandlungsstrategien für Substanzkonsum und daraus potenziell resultierender Substanzabhängigkeit entwickeln zu können.Background: The onset of substance use mostly occurs during adolescence. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relevance of personality on the basis of the NEO-Five-Factor-Inventory (NEO-FFI) to the development of nicotine, alcohol and cannabis consumption. It is focused on the dimensions neurotizism, agreeableness and conscientiousness and their predictive value for experiences with and consumption of substances. Methods: The test data is derived from the baseline assessment and first follow-up of the IMAGEN study, a European multicenter and multidisciplinary research project on adolescent mental health. In the present study 1004 subjects were tested. The characterization of personality was conducted with the NEO-FFI at the age of 14 (T1). The data on substance use were collected with the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) at the age of 16 (T2). For the statistical analysis, t-tests and univariate analyses of variance were performed. Results: The degree of the dimension neurotizism at T1 did not show significant predictive value for experiences with substance use or regular substance use at T2. The degree of agreeableness at T1 was significantly lower for ever-smokers and regular smokers at T2 than for never-smokers and not- smoking peers. The degree of agreeableness at T1 did not significantly distinguish subjects with alcohol and cannabis experiences from subjects without as well as alcohol and cannabis users from not-users at T2. The degree of conscientiousness at T1 was significantly lower for subjects with nicotine, alcohol and cannabis experiences and for subjects with nicotine and cannabis consumption at T2. The degree of conscientiousness at T1 did not significantly distinguish alcohol consumers from not-consumers at T2. Conclusion: At this time, the NEO-FFI cannot be used as an ultimate predictive instrument for future substance use. However, a low degree of conscientiousness seems to have the greatest value for a prediction of later experiences with substances use and regular substance use. The present study represents an investigation analyzing the predictive value of the NEO-FFI for the development of substance use on an adolescent European sample. Future studies should ascertain the causality of personality for substance use for the development of individual strategies for prevention and treatment of substance use and potential substance-related addiction

Study of genetic variability in Dicrocoelium dendriticum using the random amplified polimorphic DNA

1 page.-- Contributed to: VII European Multicolloquium of Parasitology (Parma, Italia, 2-6 Sep 1996).Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Rudolphi, 1819) Looss, 1899 is a liver fluke (Trematoda, Digenea) species responsible for dicrocoeliosis in its definitive host (usually sheep and cattle), in which it causes economic losses...This study was supported by CICYT, project number AGF92-0588, and Junta de Castilla y León, project number LE 16/94.Peer reviewe

Substance Use Initiation, Particularly Alcohol, in Drug-Naive Adolescents: Possible Predictors and Consequences From a Large Cohort Naturalistic Study

International audienceIt is unclear whether deviations in brain and behavioral development, which may underpin elevated substance use during adolescence, are predispositions for or consequences of substance use initiation. Here, we examine behavioral and neuroimaging indices at early and mid-adolescence in drug-naive youths to identify possible predisposing factors for substance use initiation and its possible consequences