alcoholstudycoursera-blog

[alcoholstudycoursera-blog]

Research project:Introduction

Title:To study the effects of family history in alcoholism and depression on alcohol dependence and addiction.

Dataset:  U.S. National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) 

Explanation: My initial intent was to study the relationship between alcoholism and the family history of alcoholism. However after doing some research i got to know that depression is a huge factor that affects alcoholism and alcohol dependency.  Due to this reason I have included depression and family history in depression as an additional second topic of study in this research project.

Literature Review:

In the paper Family History as a predictor for alcoholism  written by Deborah A Dawson et al,explain  the effects of various levels of positive family history of alcoholism on the probability of past year alcohol dependence were investigated using a general population sample of 23,152 drinkers 18 years of age and older. Forty percent reported a positive family history. After adjustment for age, race, gender, and poverty and compared with persons with a negative family history, the odds of alcohol dependence were increased by 45% among persons with alcoholism in second or third degree relatives only, by 86% among those with alcoholism in first degree relatives only, and by 167% among those with alcoholism in first and second or third degree relatives.[1]

Studies show that   more familial alcoholism among persons with comorbid dependence and depression than among those with dependence alone. Gender differences were supportive of the proposed distinction between pure depression and depressive-spectrum disease.[2]

Degree of family history affected drinking behavior for both men and women. There were also environmental effects on the same measures for both men and women. Childhood socioeconomic adversity was reported more frequently by participants with an alcoholic parent, but adversity effects were also shown for those with a negative family history. The risk of alcohol dependence was additively increased by a positive family history and childhood socioeconomic adversity. The environmental effects identified in this study are promising evidence for nonspecific factors that moderate family history risk for development of alcohol problems. [3]

A sample of 114 patients from consecutive cases of attempted suicide referred to a general hospital in Helsinki was interviewed and diagnosed according to DSM‐III‐R. Suicide intent was measured by the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (SIS) and hopelessness was assessed by the Beck Hopelessness Scale (HS). Impulsiveness of the suicide attempt was measured by two items of the SIS. Suicide attempters with major depression without comorbid alcohol dependence had higher suicide intent and lower impulsiveness than attempters with non‐depressive alcohol dependence. Suicide attempts may differ between subjects with major depression, alcoholism or both disorders in terms of impulsiveness and suicide intent. [4]

Hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis(H0): There exists no significant correlation between family history in alcoholism and depression and alcohol dependence

Alternate Hypothesis(H1): There exists a significant correlation between family history in alcoholism and depression and alcohol dependence

Citations:

1.Family History as a Predictor of Alcohol Dependence by Deborah A. Dawson  Thomas C. Harford  Bridget F. Grant

2. Family history of alcoholism and gender: their combined effects on DSM-IV alcohol dependence and major depression. by D A Dawson B F Grant

3. Family History of Alcoholism and Childhood Adversity: Joint Effects on Alcohol Consumption and Dependence by Elizabeth M Hill

4. Hopelessness, impulsiveness and intent among suicide attempters with major depression, alcohol dependence, or both by K Sumoein