The Stress-Hormone System in Alcohol-Dependent Subjects

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Alcohol-Dependent Subjects:

Male, 21-60 yrs, DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence, 4-6 weeks abstinence; Alcohol intake of at least 80 grams of absolute alcohol (approximately one six-pack of beer or one-half pint of 100% proof distilled spirits) on a daily basis for at least two weeks prior to the cessation of drinking. Years drinking: at least 5 yr history of active alcohol dependence; Lifetime drug of choice is alcohol; requesting treatment in long-term residential program.

Healthy Controls:

Thirty men age-matched (plus or minus 5 years) with the patients will be studied. Previous studies have typically used the presence or absence of trauma to define trauma groups. However, these studies have focused on specific types of trauma (i.e. childhood, combat) rather than trauma as a cumulative experience. It is unlikely that we will be able to find subjects who have never experienced any trauma, including the death of loved ones, parental separation, natural disaster, crime, etc. Therefore, we will initially recruit controls without regard to trauma level. Following the recruitment of the first ten subjects, trauma scores will be reviewed. If our control group endorses low levels of trauma, we will direct further recruitment towards a group with at least one self-report of significant lifetime trauma such that at 50 percent of the control population has a least one significant lifetime traumatic event.

Only English-speaking subjects will be included. Several of the study questionnaires are only available in English. In addition, these studies are exploratory and require the induction of anxiety. The investigators at TSMC believe it prudent to assure that all subjects are able to communicate easily with all staff during the fMRI and stress induction. Subjects will be recruited from subjects requesting treatment for alcohol dependence at the Dallas VA but no subjects will be seen at NIH.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Alcohol-Dependent Subjects:

• Primary psychoactive dependence disorder other than alcohol, except nicotine and caffeine.
• Active diagnosis of Axis I Schizophrenia, Mood, or Anxiety Disorders (except PTSD).
• Use of medications known to significantly affect HPA axis functioning or neural activity, including all psychotropics with the previous two weeks (or four weeks for fluoxetine).
• Use of medications known to significantly affect HPA axis functioning or neural activity, including all psychotropics with the previous two weeks (or four weeks for fluoxetine). Patients concomitantly using anxiolytics, antidepressants, opioids, lithium, anticonvulsants, sedative/hypnotics, buspirone, beta blockers, alpha adrenergic drugs, steroids, beta agonists, clonidine, dopamine agonists, naltrexone, acamprosate, or disulfiram will be excluded from the study.
• Any medical conditions that might affect HPA axis functioning or possibly endanger the patient's health or behavioral stability. Medical conditions that might limit cooperation (e.g. dementia) or put the patient at medical risk (i.e. significant hematologic, hepatic, renal, or cardiovascular pathology) will be excluded. Patients with past or present neurologic disorders (i.e. head trauma with loss of consciousness requiring hospitalization, transient ischemic attacks, stroke, tumor, etc.) will be excluded.

Healthy Controls:

• Lifetime history of DSM IV Substance Use Disorder (except Nicotine or Caffeine Dependence) or other Axis I disorder.
• One first-degree family member with a substance use disorder (other than nicotine).
• Medical, psychiatric, and medication exclusions will be the same as those described for the alcohol dependent patients.