Frontal p300 decrements, alcohol dependence, and antisocial personality disorder

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the independent and in teractive effects of alcohol dependence, antisocial personality disorder (A SPD), and age on brain function, Methods: P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 393 alcoho l-dependent and 170 non-alcohol-dependent adults while they performed a vis ual oddball cask, The two subject groups were further subdivided based upon age and the presence/absence of ASPD. Results: Alcohol dependence was associated with a significant P300 amplitud e at anterior electrode sites only Antisocial personality disorder was also associated with reduced P300 amplitudes at anterior electrode sites: howev er, the effects were only significant among subjects 30 years of age or you nger To validate this association between ASPD and P300 amplitude a correla tional analysis was performed, the Correlation between anterior P300 amplit ude and the total number of childhood conduct disorder and adult ASPD sympt oms was significant. Conclusions: The P300 amplitude decrement found at anterior electrode sites among subjects with ASPD is consistent with the results of numerous ERP, n euroimaging, or neuropsychologic studies of anterior brain function. Our st udy is unique in suggesting that the effects of ASPD on anterior brain func tion are best detected during early adulthood. The study also suggests that the detrimental neurotphysiologic effects of alcohol dependence predominan tly involve the anterior brain, (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry.