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Toward a Comprehensive Developmental Model for Alcohol Use Disorders in Men

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Kenneth S. Kendler ,
Charles O. Gardner  and
Carol A. Prescott
Kenneth S. Kendler*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, United States of America; Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, United States of America. kendler@vcu.edu
Charles O. Gardner
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, United States of America.
Carol A. Prescott
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, United States of America.
*
*Address for correspondence: Kenneth S. Kendler, MD, Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics of VCU, Box 980126, Richmond, VA 23298-0126.

Abstract

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The multiple risk factors for alcohol use (AU) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are interrelated through poorly understood pathways, many of which begin in childhood. In this report, the authors seek to develop an empirical, broad-based developmental model for the etiology of AU and AUDs in men. We assessed 15 risk factors in four developmental tiers in 1,794 adult male twins from the Virginia population based twin registry. The best fitting model explained 39% of the variance in late adolescent AU, and 30% of the liability to lifetime symptoms of AUD. AU and AUDs can be best understood as arising from the action and interaction of two pathways reflecting externalizing genetic/temperamental and familial/social factors. Peer group deviance was important in each pathway. Internalizing symptoms played a more minor role. Familial/social factors were especially important influences on AU, while genetic/temperamental factors were more critical for AUDs. We conclude that AU and AUDs in men are complex traits influenced by genetic, family, temperamental, and social factors, acting and interacting over developmental time.

Keywords

alcoholismgeneticsdevelopmentpeer deviance
Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 14 , Issue 1 , 01 February 2011 , pp. 1 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011