Experimentally induced aggressiveness in adult children of alcoholics (ACOAs): Preliminary behavioral and neuroendocrine findings

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the nature of the reaction of nonalcoholic adult children of alcoholic (ACOA) fathers to the experime ntal induction of aggression. Of particular interest was the relationship b etween biochemical factors and personality traits during a stressful event experienced by persons at risk for alcoholism. Method: Aggression was induc ed by a modified free-operant procedure in 14 ACOA and 14 non-ACOA subjects between 18 and 19 years of age with men and women represented in equal num bers. Neurotransmitter-hormonal assays from blood drawn immediately before, and 20 and 30 minutes after, starting the test included norepinephrine (NE ), epinephrine (EPI), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and cortisol (Co rt). Personality traits were assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personal ity Inventory (MMPI) Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Results: During the aggression ind uction session, ACOAs gained (F = 4.6, 1/13 df, p < .05) and subtracted (F = 9.2, 1/13 df, p < .005) significantly less money than non-ACOAs, evidence of lower outward-directed aggressiveness among ACOAs. Higher baseline plas ma levels of Cort (F = 9.8, 1/13 df, p < .01) and PRL (F = 4.0, 1/13 df, p < .05) and decreased NE (F = 8.5, 1/13 df, p < .005) and GH (F = 10.9, 1/13 df, p < .001) responses during: the experimental session were observed. On personality measures ACOAs scored higher than non-ACOAs on MMPI hysteria ( F = 10.8, 1/13 df, p < .005), hypochondria (F = 20.1, 1/13 df, p < .001) an d paranoia (F = 4.7, 1/13 df, p < 0.5) subscales. on the TPQ reward depende nce (F = 10.9, 1/13 df, p < .005) subscale and on BDHI guilt (F = 15.7, 1/1 3 df, p < .001) and resentment (F = 6.4, 1/13 df, p < .05) subscales. Concl usion: These findings, preliminary in nature, support a hypothesis of inhib ition of state and trait aggression in ACOAs in association with monoaminer gic and endocrine changes.