Comparison of HPA axis responses to psychological stress in recently abstinent male patients with alcohol dependence, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy controls

Abstract

Objectives: In this study we aim to compare the adrenocortical responses to psychological stress of recently abstinent alcohol-dependent patients, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and control participants.

Patients and methods: Between January 2010 and June 2010, a total of 94 participants, alcohol-dependent group (32 males; mean age: 45.9±8.6 years; range, 18 to 65 years), first-degree relatives group (32 males; mean age: 41.7±9.4 years; range, 18 to 65 years), and control group (30 males; mean age: 41.0±8.5 years; range, 18 to 65 years) were included in the data analyses. All patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for alcohol dependence and had been abstinent for >3 weeks. Controls and first-degree relatives had no reported history of DSM-IV Axis I disorders, including any substance use disorder. Participants reported to the general clinical research center study room at 9:00 to undergo a psychological stress test consisting of 30 min of public speaking followed by 15 min of mental arithmetic. Two baseline (–30 min, immediately before the beginning of the test) and five post-stress (15, 30, 45, 60, 90 min) blood samples were drawn.

Results: At baseline, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in the alcohol-dependent group were significantly different than those in both the relatives and the healthy controls. Post-stressor cortisol and ACTH values differed between the alcohol-dependent patients and both of their relatives the controls at timepoints +15, +30, +45, +60, and +90. In addition, we found psychological stress-induced ACTH/cortisol rise in the alcoholics, and significant psychological stress-induced ACTH-only rise post-stress (15, 30, 60, 90 min) in their first-degree relatives, as compared to controls.

Conclusion: In agreement with prior studies, we found a deficient activation of the HPA axis in recently abstinent alcoholics than in their first-degree relatives and controls. These findings suggest that HPA hypo-responsiveness may be an important characteristic of individuals prone to alcohol dependence and suggest that the disruption in first-degree relatives occurs at the pituitary level.

Cite this article as: Koyuncu Kütük E, Han Almis B, Dilbaz N, Akkişi Kumsar N. Comparison of HPA axis responses to psychological stress in recently abstinent male patients with alcohol dependence, their unaffected first-degree relatives, and healthy controls. D J Med Sci 2024;10(3):113-122. doi: 10.5606/fng. btd.2024.158.

Idea/concept, design, control/supervision, data collection and/or processing, analysis and/or interpretation, writing the article, references and fundings, materials: E.K.K.; Control/ supervision,analysis and/or interpretation,literature review,writing the article, critical review: B.H.A.; Idea/ concept, design, control/supervision, critical review, references and fundings: N.D.; Analysis and/or interpretation, literature review, data collection and/or processing: N.A.K.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Data Sharing Statement:
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.