@article{ref1,
title="Reactivity to uncertain threat as a familial vulnerability factor for alcohol use disorder",
journal="Psychological medicine",
year="2016",
author="Gorka, S. M. and Hee, D. and Lieberman, L. and Mittal, V. A. and Phan, K. L. and Shankman, S. A.",
volume="46",
number="16",
pages="3349-3358",
abstract="BACKGROUND: When sober, problematic drinkers display exaggerated reactivity to threats that are uncertain (U-threat). Since this aversive affective state can be alleviated via acute alcohol intoxication, it has been posited that individuals who exhibit heightened reactivity to U-threat at baseline are motivated to use alcohol as a means of avoidance-based coping, setting the stage for excessive drinking. To date, however, no study has attempted to characterize the dispositional nature of exaggerated reactivity to U-threat and test whether it is a vulnerability factor or exclusively a disease marker of problematic alcohol use. <br><br>METHOD: The current investigation utilized a family study design to address these gaps by examining whether (1) reactivity to U-threat is associated with risk for problematic alcohol use, defined by family history of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and (2) reactivity to U-threat is correlated amongst adult biological siblings. A total of 157 families, and 458 individuals, participated in the study and two biological siblings completed a threat-of-shock task designed to probe reactivity to U-threat and predictable threat (P-threat). Startle potentiation was collected as an index of aversive responding. <br><br>RESULTS: Within biological siblings, startle potentiation to U-threat [intraclass correlation (ICC) = 0.35] and P-threat (ICC = 0.63) was significantly correlated. In addition, independent of an individuals' own AUD status, startle potentiation to U-threat, but not P-threat, was positively associated with risk for AUD (i.e. AUD family history). <br><br>CONCLUSION: This suggests that heightened reactivity to U-threat may be a familial vulnerability factor for problematic drinking and a novel prevention target for AUD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-2917",
doi="10.1017/S0033291716002415",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716002415"
}