The lifetime prevalence of psychopathology in men with multigenerational family histories of alcoholism

Article Abstract:

One approach to studying alcoholism is to study people at high risk for this condition, a method that is of particular interest to those who believe that alcoholism has a genetic component. Nonalcoholic men with multigenerational family histories (MFH) of alcoholism may be predisposed to other forms of psychopathology, and this was investigated by studying 25 volunteers. Extensive family histories were available for all subjects. Subjects were divided into high-risk (having at least two paternally related male alcoholic relatives, in addition to an alcoholic biological father, 13 subjects), or controls (12 subjects). No subject had an alcoholic mother. Subjects were interviewed by a psychiatrist or psychologist who evaluated them according to the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime version (SADS-L). Subjects were assigned an SADS-L diagnosis, if appropriate, and relatives were diagnosed according to the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC). Results showed that definite SADS-L diagnoses were made for more members of the high-risk group than controls (nine as compared with two). The most common diagnoses were major affective disorder and anxiety disorder. Data from first- and second-degree relatives revealed that more nonalcoholic diagnoses were made for relatives of the high-risk men than for relatives of the controls: these diagnoses tended to be associated with depression. Thus, the findings indicate that MFH families tend to have a greater overall incidence of psychopathology, although the relative contributions of genetics and environmental influences cannot be determined. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Statistics, Alcoholism, Family, Alcoholics, Psychology, Pathological, Psychopathology, Alcoholic myopathy

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Gender and depression: assessing exposure and vulnerability to life events in a chronically strained population

Article Abstract:

It has been suggested that women's higher levels of psychological distress may be due to their nurturing role. Role-related differences in exposure and responses to events occurring within social groups are thought to constitute a 'cost of caring' that results in elevated depressive symptoms in women. The effect of gender differences in exposure and responses to stress on depressive symptoms was studied in a group of physically disabled people. The role of employment in gender differences in depression was also studied. Results indicated that women and men are equally psychologically vulnerable to life events which happen to themselves. However, women are more vulnerable than men to events happening to others. When rates of labor force participation are taken into account, great gender differences become apparent in the impact of employment on exposure and vulnerability to certain stressful events. The implications of these finding for public health programs are discussed.

Psychological aspects, Social aspects, Women, Mental illness, Mental disorders

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