Functional Neuroanatomy of Positive and Negative Affect in Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics

Study start date: January 23, 1998

INPATIENT ALCOHOLICS: We will study up to 150 male and 150 female individuals who meet criteria for alcohol use disorders and are between the age of 18 and 65 years. Inpatient alcoholics will be recruited from the NIAAA protocol 05-AA-0121, Assessment and treatment of people with alcohol drinking problems. Inclusion criteria (1) Are physically healthy; (2) Are between 18-65 years of age (since age effects FMRI signal in ways that have not yet been well-characterized); (2) Are right handed. Exclusion criteria: (1) Have ferromagnetic objects in their bodies which might be adversely affected by MRI including implanted pacemakers, medication pumps, aneurysm clips; metallic prostheses (including metal pins and rods, heart valves or cochlear implants, shrapnel fragments, permanent eye liner or small metal fragments in the eye that welders and other metal works may have- any doubt about presence of these objects will result in exclusion from this study), or if candidates are uncomfortable in small closed spaces (have claustrophobia), or cannot lie comfortably on their back for up to one hour; (2) Test HIV positive (since AIDS-related dementia compromises brain function); (3) Are not cleared on a neuromotor examination during the screening physical by the medically responsible staff; (4) Are currently receiving psychotropic medication for emotional distress; (5) Are pregnant or lactating; (6) Have symptoms of alcohol withdrawal as indicated by the most recent measurement within the past 30 days, as measured by the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) score greater than 8; (7) Have active homicidal or suicidal ideation. RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS We will study up to 50 male and 50 female individuals who in the past have met criteria for alcohol use disorders and are between the age of 18 and 65 years. Recovering alcoholics must be at least 3 month without alcohol use, and will be recruited from the NIAAA protocol 05-AA-0121, Assessment and treatment of people with alcohol drinking problems. Inclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics. Exclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics. -HEALTHY NON-ALCOHOLICS: We will study up to 150 male and 150 female individuals who have never met criteria for an alcohol use disorder and are between the age of 18 and 65 years and will be recruited from the NIAAA protocol 98-AA-0009, Screening Evaluation for NIAAA Protocols. Inclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics. Exclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics (item 6 does not apply). -CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS: We will study up to 90 male and 90 female individuals who are biological children of at least one parent who met criteria for alcohol dependence and are between the age of 12 and 17 years. Inclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics except age range is between 12 and 17 years. Exclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics except age range is between 12 and 17 years (item 6 does not apply). -CHILDREN OF NON-ALCOHOLICS: We will study up to 90 male and 90 female individuals neither of whose biological parents met criteria for alcohol dependence and are between the age of 12 and 17 years. Inclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics except age range is between 12 and 17 years. Exclusion criteria: Same as inpatient alcoholics except age range is between 12 and 17 years (item 6 does not apply). -PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT WITH A HISTORY OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE: We will study up to 180 individuals who are the parent of a child who has at least one parent with a history of alcohol dependence. The person providing consent may be either a parent with the history of alcohol dependence or a parent without such a history. Inclusion criteria: Legally able to consent for child. Exclusion criteria: None. -PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH NO FAMILY HISTORY OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE We will study up to 180 individuals who are the parent of a child neither of whose parents have a history of alcohol dependence. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria: Legally able to consent for child. Exclusion criteria: None.