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This digital document is an article from Journal of Studies on Alcohol, published by Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc. on November 1, 1999. The length of the article is 6708 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web bro... More

This digital document is an article from Journal of Studies on Alcohol, published by Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc. on November 1, 1999. The length of the article is 6708 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the author: Objective: This study was conducted to determine the nature of the reaction of nonalcoholic adult children of alcoholic (ACOA) fathers to the experimental induction of aggression. Of particular interest was the relationship between biochemical factors and personality traits during a stressful event experienced by persons at risk for alcoholism. Method: Aggression was induced 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 numbers. 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 (Cort). Personality traits were assessed by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) and the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI). Results: During the aggression induction session, ACOAs gained (F = 4.6, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .05) and subtracted (F = 9.2, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .005) significantly less money than non-ACOAs, evidence of lower outward-directed aggressiveness among ACOAs. Higher baseline plasma levels of Cort (F = 9.8, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .01) and PRL (F = 4.0, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .05) and decreased NE (F = 8.5, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .005) and GH (F = 10.9, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .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 [is less than] .005), hypochondria (F = 20.1, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .001) and paranoia (F = 4.7, 1/13 df, p [is less than] 0.5) subscales, on the TPQ reward dependence (F = 10.9, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .005) subscale and on BDHI guilt (F = 15.7, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .001) and resentment (F = 6.4, 1/13 df, p [is less than] .05) subscales. Conclusion: These findings, preliminary in nature, support a hypothesis of inhibition of state and trait aggression in ACOAs in association with monoaminergic and endocrine changes. (J. Stud. Alcohol 60: 776-783, 1999)

Citation Details
Title: Experimentally Induced Aggressiveness in Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOAs): Preliminary Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Findings(*).
Author: Gilberto Gerra
Publication: Journal of Studies on Alcohol (Refereed)
Date: November 1, 1999
Publisher: Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc.
Volume: 60 Issue: 6 Page: 776

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