Citation

Gorka SM. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Illinois-Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States; University of Illinois-Chicago, Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics (CARE), 1601 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, United States; University of Illinois-Chicago, Department of Psychology, 1007 West Harrison St. (M/C 285), Chicago, IL 60607, United States. Electronic address: sgorka2@uic.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107727

PMID

31734035

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to interpersonal trauma is highly prevalent within individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, the mechanisms underlying the pathway between trauma exposure and AUD are unclear. Preliminary evidence suggests that heightened reactivity to threats that are uncertain (U-threat) may characterize individuals with AUD and interpersonal trauma exposure and contribute to alcohol abuse within this subgroup of individuals; however, this hypothesis has yet to be tested.

METHOD: The aim of the study was to examine whether heightened reactivity to U-threat characterizes individuals with AUD and a history of interpersonal trauma. Specifically, the study compared defensive reactivity to U-threat (and predictable threat [P-threat]) in those with: 1) AUD and a history of interpersonal trauma (AUD + Trauma); 2) AUD and no history of interpersonal trauma (AUD-Trauma); and 3) matched controls. Participants (N = 77) completed a well-validated threat-of-shock task and startle eyeblink potentiation was collected as an index of aversive responding.

RESULTS: Results revealed a group by threat condition interaction (F[4, 142] = 3.17, p = 0.03; η_G² = 0.08) such that individuals with AUD + Trauma exhibited greater startle reactivity to U-threat, but not P-threat, compared with individuals with AUD-Trauma and controls (who did not differ from each other). The findings were significant even when controlling for current anxiety and depression symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: Within individuals with AUD, those with a history of interpersonal trauma exposure may be a neurobiologically unique subtype characterized by exaggerated U-threat reactivity and high levels of anticipatory anxiety. Reactivity to U-threat may be a promising alcohol use prevention and intervention target for trauma-exposed individuals.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol use disorder; Interpersonal trauma; Startle potentiation; Uncertain threat