Dl. Mangold et al., Endogenous opioid activity is associated with obsessive-compulsive symptomology in individuals with a family history of alcoholism, NEUROPSYCH, 22(6), 2000, pp. 595-607
Endogenous opioid activity has bed? associated with the regulation of mood
and inhibition of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We assesse
d differences il psychological symptomology and naloxone sensitivity in non
-alcoholic males and females with a family history of alcoholism (FHP) and
without a family history of alcoholism (FHN). This was followed by assessme
nt of the association between naloxone sensitivity and psychological sympto
mology. Psychological symptomology was observed using the Revised Symptom C
hecklist (SCL-90-R) during enrollment. Adrenocorticotropin was measured fol
lowing intravenous administration of naloxone/placebo. FHP males reported m
ore obsessive-compulsive symptomology as well as increased sensitivity to n
aloxone relative to other groups. A positive association teas observed betw
een degree of obsessive-compulsive symptomology and naloxone sensitivity, a
nd the association was strongest among FHP males. These findings suggest th
at the increased risk of alcoholism in FHP subjects (especially males) may
be associated with altered opioid activity, which is expressed through an e
levated level of obsessive compulsive symptomology. (C) 2000 American Colle
ge of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.