Citation

Jung J, Rosoff DB, Muench C, Luo A, Longley M, Lee J, Charlet K, Lohoff FW. Alcohol Alcohol. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive (10CRC/2-2352), Bethesda, MD 20892-1540, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/alcalc/agz098

PMID

31895420

Abstract

AIM: High-intensity binge drinking (HIBD), defined as two or more times the gender-specific binge threshold, is rapidly increasing in the USA; however, the underlying contributing factors are poorly understood. This study investigated the relationship of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and HIBD.

METHODS: Two independent, cross-sectional samples were analysed: (a) past 12-month drinkers in the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III; n = 25,552) and (b) the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) clinical sample (n = 1303). Multinomial logistic regressions were utilized to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of ACEs on HIBD. Mediation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the past 12-month psychiatric disorders, ACEs, and HIBD.

RESULTS: In the NESARC-III sample, prevalence of ACEs increased across all binge levels with the highest prevalence in extreme HIBD; ACEs were associated with higher odds for HIBD (level II, odds ratio (OR) = 1.2-1.4; P = 0.03-0.001; level III, OR = 1.3-1.9; P < 0.001). Prevalence of DSM-5 diagnoses also increased across all binge levels. Substance use disorders (SUD), mood, personality and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) conferred the highest odds with extreme HIBD (SUD: OR = 21.32; mood: 1.73; personality: 2.84; PTSD: 1.97; all Ps < 0.001). Mediation analyses showed that the association between ACEs and HIBD was fully mediated through SUD (proportion mediated: 70-90%) and partially through other psychiatric disorders (20-80%). In the NIAAA sample, ACEs were 2-5 times more prevalent in extreme HIBD with higher odds (ORs = 3-8, P < 0.001) compared with non-bingers.

CONCLUSION: ACEs were associated with significantly increased odds of HIBD and the relationship may be mediated by psychiatric disorders.

© The Author(s) 2020. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Language: en