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Cortisol stress response predicts 9-year risky driving convictions in male first-time driving-while-impaired offenders. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:177-187. [PMID: 31511917 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05359-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With driving while impaired by alcohol (DWI) representing a persistent burden on global health, better understanding and prevention of recidivism following a first-time DWI conviction are needed. Progress towards these goals is challenged by the marked heterogeneity in offender characteristics and a traffic safety literature that relies on subjective self-report measures and cross-sectional study designs. The present study tested the hypothesis that an objective neurobiological marker of behavioural maladjustment, the cortisol stress response (CSR), predicts future DWI and other traffic convictions over a 9-year follow-up period. METHODS One hundred thirty-two male first-time DWI offenders and 31 non-offender comparators were recruited and assessed at intake for their substance use, psychosocial and psychological characteristics and CSR. Traffic conviction data were obtained from provincial driving records. Survival analysis estimated the association between CSR and risk of a traffic conviction over time. RESULTS In support of our hypothesis, blunted CSR predicted traffic convictions during the follow-up duration. This effect generalized to both DWI offenders and non-DWI drivers. While CSR was lower in DWI offenders compared to non-offenders, it did not specifically predict recidivism in DWI offenders. Modelling results indicated that blunted CSR, along with DWI offender group membership, experience seeking and drug use frequency, may demarcate a high-risk driver phenotype. CONCLUSIONS CSR is a neurobiological marker of a driver phenotype with elevated generalized driving risk. For drivers with characteristics consistent with this phenotype, expanding the focus of intervention to address multiple forms of risky driving may be necessary to curb their overall threat to traffic safety.
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Couture S, Ouimet MC, Dedovic K, Laurier C, Plusquellec P, Brown TG. Blunted cortisol reactivity and risky driving in young offenders - a pilot study. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2018; 32:/j/ijamh.ahead-of-print/ijamh-2017-0123/ijamh-2017-0123.xml. [PMID: 29331098 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh-2017-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Adolescent risky driving is a significant burden on public health. Young offenders (i.e. under custody and supervision of the criminal justice system) may be particularly vulnerable, but research is scant. Previous work indicated that blunted cortisol reactivity to stress is a marker of risk-taking predisposition, including risky driving. In this study, we hypothesized that young offenders display higher levels of risky driving than a non-offender comparison group, and that cortisol reactivity contributes to the variance in risky driving independent of other associated characteristics (i.e. impulsivity, risk taking, alcohol and drug use). We found that young offenders (n = 20) showed riskier driving in simulation than comparison group (n = 9), and blunted cortisol reactivity was significantly associated with risky driving. The results suggest young offenders are prone to risky driving, and that individual differences in the cortisol stress response may be an explanatory factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Couture
- Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté, 1001 Maisonneuve Blvd. east, 7th floor, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Phone: +1 514 896 3485, Fax: +1 514 896 3400
- Université de Montréal, School of Criminology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie Claude Ouimet
- Université de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katarina Dedovic
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Addiction Research Program, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Laurier
- Université de Sherbrooke, Department of Psychoeducation, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Institut universitaire Jeunes en difficulté, 1001 Maisonneuve Blvd. east, 7th floor, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierrich Plusquellec
- Université de Montréal, School of Psychoeducation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas G Brown
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Addiction Research Program, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- McGill University, Department of Psychiatry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Brown TG, Ouimet MC, Eldeb M, Tremblay J, Vingilis E, Nadeau L, Pruessner J, Bechara A. Personality, Executive Control, and Neurobiological Characteristics Associated with Different Forms of Risky Driving. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150227. [PMID: 26910345 PMCID: PMC4766103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Road crashes represent a huge burden on global health. Some drivers are prone to repeated episodes of risky driving (RD) and are over-represented in crashes and related morbidity. However, their characteristics are heterogeneous, hampering development of targeted intervention strategies. This study hypothesized that distinct personality, cognitive, and neurobiological processes are associated with the type of RD behaviours these drivers predominantly engage in. Methods Four age-matched groups of adult (19–39 years) males were recruited: 1) driving while impaired recidivists (DWI, n = 36); 2) non-alcohol reckless drivers (SPEED, n = 28); 3) drivers with a mixed RD profile (MIXED, n = 27); and 4) low-risk control drivers (CTL, n = 47). Their sociodemographic, criminal history, driving behaviour (by questionnaire and simulation performance), personality (Big Five traits, impulsivity, reward sensitivity), cognitive (disinhibition, decision making, behavioural risk taking), and neurobiological (cortisol stress response) characteristics were gathered and contrasted. Results Compared to controls, group SPEED showed greater sensation seeking, disinhibition, disadvantageous decision making, and risk taking. Group MIXED exhibited more substance misuse, and antisocial, sensation seeking and reward sensitive personality features. Group DWI showed greater disinhibition and more severe alcohol misuse, and compared to the other RD groups, the lowest level of risk taking when sober. All RD groups exhibited less cortisol increase in response to stress compared to controls. Discussion Each RD group exhibited a distinct personality and cognitive profile, which was consistent with stimulation seeking in group SPEED, fearlessness in group MIXED, and poor behavioural regulation associated with alcohol in group DWI. As these group differences were uniformly accompanied by blunted cortisol stress responses, they may reflect the disparate behavioural consequences of dysregulation of the stress system. In sum, RD preference appears to be a useful marker for clarifying explanatory pathways to risky driving, and for research into developing more personalized prevention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. Brown
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Foster Addiction Rehabilitation Centre, St. Philippe de Laprairie, Quebec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Marie Claude Ouimet
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
| | - Manal Eldeb
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jacques Tremblay
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Evelyn Vingilis
- Department of Family Medicine and Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Louise Nadeau
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jens Pruessner
- Research Centre of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Antoine Bechara
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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Couture S, Ouimet MC, Gianoulakis C, Tremblay J, Ng Ying Kin N, Brochu S, Pruessner J, Dedovic K, Brown TG. Lower Cortisol Activity is Associated with First-Time Driving while Impaired. SUBSTANCE ABUSE-RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2015; 9:25-32. [PMID: 25922575 PMCID: PMC4384759 DOI: 10.4137/sart.s21353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Driving while impaired (DWI) is a grave and persistent high-risk behavior. Previous work demonstrated that DWI recidivists had attenuated cortisol reactivity compared to non-DWI drivers. This suggests that cortisol is a neurobiological marker of high-risk driving. The present study tested the hypothesis that this initial finding would extend to first-time DWI (fDWI) offenders compared to non-DWI drivers. Male fDWI offenders (n = 139) and non-DWI drivers (n = 31) were exposed to a stress task, and their salivary cortisol activity (total output and reactivity) was measured. Participants also completed questionnaires on sensation seeking, impulsivity, substance use, and engagement in risky and criminal behaviors. As hypothesized, fDWI offenders, compared to non-DWI drivers, had lower cortisol reactivity; fDWI offenders also showed lower total output. In addition, cortisol activity was the most important predictor of group membership, after accounting for alcohol misuse patterns and consequences and other personality and problem behavior characteristics. The findings indicate that attenuated cortisol activity is an independent factor associated with DWI offending risk at an earlier stage in the DWI trajectory than previously detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Couture
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; School of Criminology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Centre jeunesse de Montréal - Institut universitaire, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marie Claude Ouimet
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
| | - Christina Gianoulakis
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jacques Tremblay
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nmk Ng Ying Kin
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Serge Brochu
- School of Criminology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jens Pruessner
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Katarina Dedovic
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Thomas G Brown
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ; Foster Addiction Rehabilitation Centre, St. Philippe de Laprairie, Quebec, Canada
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Ouimet MC, Brown TG, Guo F, Klauer SG, Simons-Morton BG, Fang Y, Lee SE, Gianoulakis C, Dingus TA. Higher crash and near-crash rates in teenaged drivers with lower cortisol response: an 18-month longitudinal, naturalistic study. JAMA Pediatr 2014; 168:517-22. [PMID: 24710522 PMCID: PMC4139916 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.5387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Road traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death among teenagers worldwide. Better understanding of the individual pathways to driving risk may lead to better-targeted intervention in this vulnerable group. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between cortisol, a neurobiological marker of stress regulation linked to risky behavior, and driving risk. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Naturalistic Teenage Driving Study was designed to continuously monitor the driving behavior of teenagers by instrumenting vehicles with kinematic sensors, cameras, and a global positioning system. During 2006-2008, a community sample of 42 newly licensed 16-year-old volunteer participants in the United States was recruited and driving behavior monitored. It was hypothesized in teenagers that higher cortisol response to stress is associated with (1) lower crash and near-crash (CNC) rates during their first 18 months of licensure and (2) faster reduction in CNC rates over time. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Participants' cortisol response during a stress-inducing task was assessed at baseline, followed by measurement of their involvement in CNCs and driving exposure during their first 18 months of licensure. Mixed-effect Poisson longitudinal regression models were used to examine the association between baseline cortisol response and CNC rates during the follow-up period. RESULTS Participants with a higher baseline cortisol response had lower CNC rates during the follow-up period (exponential of the regression coefficient, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98) and faster decrease in CNC rates over time (exponential of the regression coefficient, 0.98; 95%, CI, 0.96-0.99). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Cortisol is a neurobiological marker associated with teenaged-driving risk. As in other problem-behavior fields, identification of an objective marker of teenaged-driving risk promises the development of more personalized intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Claude Ouimet
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada,Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Thomas G. Brown
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Feng Guo
- Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia,Department of Statistics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | | | - Bruce G. Simons-Morton
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Youjia Fang
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Suzanne E. Lee
- Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia
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Couture S, Brown TG, Tremblay J, Ng Ying Kin NMK, Ouimet MC, Nadeau L. Are biomarkers of chronic alcohol misuse useful in the assessment of DWI recidivism status? ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2010; 42:307-312. [PMID: 19887172 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2009.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2009] [Revised: 08/04/2009] [Accepted: 08/09/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED A first driving while impaired by alcohol (DWI) conviction is a key opportunity to identify offenders who are at high risk for recidivism. Detection of alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a major target of current DWI assessments. However, offenders frequently underreport their alcohol consumption, and use of biomarkers has been proposed as a more objective indicator. Among the best established are aspartate aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), mean corpuscular red blood cell volume (MCV), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), and thiamine. To our knowledge, no research has directly verified whether AUD biomarkers predict DWI recidivism status. Using a cross-sectional design, this study tested three hypotheses related to the utility of biomarkers in DWI assessment. HYPOTHESES (1) DWI recidivists possess biomarkers indicative of greater prevalence of AUD compared to first-time offenders; (2) multiple biomarkers better differentiate first-time offenders from recidivists compared to individual biomarkers; and (3) biomarkers add significantly to the prediction of recidivism over and above psychosocial questionnaires. METHODS First-time offenders (n = 49) and recidivists (n = 95) participated in the study. In addition to self-reported information on sociodemographic and driving characteristics, data from several AUD questionnaires were gathered: Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Composite International Diagnostic Interview, and Timeline Follow-Back. Blood samples were collected to measure AST, ALT, GGT, MCV, CDT, and thiamine. RESULTS AUD biomarkers, taken individually or in combination, did not indicate that recidivists had more frequent AUD compared to first-time offenders. Also, they failed to significantly differentiate first-time offenders from recidivists or predict recidivism status. Finally, the superiority of biomarkers over psychosocial AUD questionnaires was not supported in the laboratory setting. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest that biomarkers of chronic patterns of heavy drinking may not be adequate to capture the multiple processes that appear to promote recidivism (e.g., binge drinking, other risky behavioural and personality features). Despite their objectivity, caution is warranted in the interpretation of a positive score on these biomarkers in DWI assessment. Longitudinal research is needed to more comprehensively explore the relationship between positive biomarkers in first-time offenders and their risk of becoming recidivists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Couture
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Perry Pavilion, Fourth Floor, Rm. E-4118, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, Québec, Canada H4H 1R3
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BROWN THOMASG, OUIMET MARIECLAUDE, NADEAU LOUISE, GIANOULAKIS CHRISTINA, LEPAGE MARTIN, TREMBLAY JACQUES, DONGIER MAURICE. From the brain to bad behaviour and back again: Neurocognitive and psychobiological mechanisms of driving while impaired by alcohol. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009; 28:406-18. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2009.00053.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Brown TG, Ouimet MC, Nadeau L, Lepage M, Tremblay J, Dongier M, Kin NMKNY. DUI offenders who delay relicensing: a quantitative and qualitative investigation. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2008; 9:109-118. [PMID: 18398773 DOI: 10.1080/15389580801907908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As in many jurisdictions, individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in the province of Quebec are mandated to relicensing programs, which include obligatory participation in intervention programs. However, prolonged delay in relicensing is widespread, potentially contributing to unlicensed driving, untreated substance misuse problems, and drink-driving risk. Information about the characteristics of DUI offenders who delay relicensing (DR) is sparse. This investigation compares the characteristics of DR offenders with those offenders who do not delay (NoDR). In addition, the rationales of DR offenders for delaying relicensing are explored qualitatively. METHODS Two studies were conducted to explore the characteristics of DR offenders. In Study 1, DR offenders (n = 46) were compared to NoDR offenders (n = 74) on multidimensional measures of psychosocial functioning, driving behavior, substance use, and psychological and neurocognitive characteristics. In Study 2, a qualitative examination of 20 DR offenders' reasons underlying delayed relicensing was undertaken, with verbatims content analyzed to identify major themes. A questionnaire, based upon this preliminary analysis, was then administered to another sample of DR participants (N = 37) to appraise and confirm thematic comprehensiveness. RESULTS The main findings of Study 1 were that, compared to NoDR offenders, DR offenders had more past DUI convictions, were at greater risk for drink driving per kilometer (km) driven, were more likely to have received substance abuse treatment, and exhibited indices of poorer neurocognitive performance in visual memory and behavioral inhibition domains. No group differences were uncovered on substance use measures. The findings of Study 2 revealed that the expense of participation, availability of alternate transportation, lack of interest, and no access to a vehicle were the most frequent explanations for delayed relicensing. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings suggest that both individual and contextual factors influence timely fulfillment of relicensing requirements. While the cost of relicensing may succeed in removing some offenders from the road, it may also be a barrier for others at risk for drink driving, preventing exposure to needed intervention programs. Reducing this barrier may need to be weighted against the risks of relicensing more DUI offenders. Neurocognitive factors may need to be taken into account to not only decrease delay in relicensing but also increase the benefits from participation in interventions that are part of current relicensing programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Brown
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Couture S, Brown TG, Ouimet MC, Gianoulakis C, Tremblay J, Carbonneau R. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress in male DUI recidivists. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2008; 40:246-253. [PMID: 18215555 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2007.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2007] [Revised: 04/24/2007] [Accepted: 06/13/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol is a stress hormone mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and a psychobiological marker of genetic risk for alcoholism and other high-risk behavioural characteristics. In previous work with driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) recidivists, we uncovered a significant inverse relationship between the frequency of past DUI convictions and salivary cortisol, whose strength surpassed those observed between DUI frequency and measures of alcohol abuse and other DUI-related characteristics. This finding emerged using a methodology not specifically contrived to test this relationship. The goals of this follow-up study were to (a) examine if a standardized stress-induction protocol would produce a significant inverse relationship between cortisol response and number of DUI offences; and (b) clarify whether HPA axis dysregulation could be linked to particular DUI-related behavioural correlates, such as alcohol use severity, sensation seeking, and antisocial features. Thirty male DUI recidivists were recruited as well as 11 male non-DUI drivers as a comparison group. Results indicated an inverse relationship between DUI frequency and cortisol response (r(39)=-0.36, p=0.021), as well as a lower cortisol response in DUI offenders than the comparison group (F(1,39)=5.71, p=0.022). Finally, for recidivists, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that experience seeking (R(2)=0.23, p=0.008), followed by number of cigarettes smoked daily ((Delta)R(2)=0.12, p=0.031), combined to explain 35% of the variance in cortisol (F(2,29)=7.26, p=0.003). These findings indicate that severe recidivism may have psychobiological underpinnings, and that HPA axis dysregulation appears to be a mechanism common to high-risk behaviours including DUI recidivism, sensation seeking, and cigarette smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Couture
- Addiction Research Program, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
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Ouimet MC, Brown TG, Nadeau L, Lepage M, Pelletier M, Couture S, Tremblay J, Legault L, Dongier M, Gianoulakis C, Ng Ying Kin NMK. Neurocognitive characteristics of DUI recidivists. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2007; 39:743-50. [PMID: 17229395 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2006.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2006] [Revised: 10/13/2006] [Accepted: 11/08/2006] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Individuals who drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol may be at greater risk for neurocognitive impairment because of their exposure to multiple sources of neurological risk. This could contribute to the persistence of DUI behaviour and influence the effectiveness of remedial interventions. The objectives of this study were to clarify the neurocognitive characteristics of DUI recidivists and the nature of potential impairments, and to explore relationships between these characteristics and the frequency of past DUI convictions. One hundred male recidivists were evaluated for visuospatial constructional abilities and visual memory, verbal fluency, attention skills, cognitive flexibility, spatial planning, and verbal and movement inhibition. Results indicated that a majority of recidivists showed signs of neurocognitive impairment on several dimensions. Impairment was most marked on visuospatial constructional abilities and visual memory. In contrast to previous studies, no participants were found to have impulse control problems. Measures of memory and cognitive efficiency were significantly associated with the frequency of past convictions. Finally, exploratory analyses of two potential sources of impairment, alcohol exposure and head trauma, suggested the role of excessive alcohol use as the most obvious associated factor. Overall, the findings indicate that neurocognitive impairments are a common feature in recidivists and may contribute to DUI persistence. Development of a DUI-specific neurocognitive assessment and greater understanding of how neurocognitive status influences DUI risk could lead to remediation strategies better adapted to the individual characteristics of recidivists.
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Response of the HPA-axis to alcohol and stress as a function of alcohol dependence and family history of alcoholism. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2007; 32:293-305. [PMID: 17349749 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2006] [Revised: 11/10/2006] [Accepted: 01/09/2007] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis has been observed in chronic alcoholics and in non-alcoholic sons of alcoholic parents, while genetic and environmental factors, such as stress, may play a significant role in the development of alcoholism. The present study was designed to investigate the response of the HPA-axis to alcohol and stress as a function of family history of alcoholism and chronic alcohol abuse. We determined changes in plasma adrenal corticotrophin (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations in response to a placebo or an alcohol (0.50g ethanol/kg body wt) drink and to a stress task performed 30 min following ingestion of either the placebo or the alcohol drink in social and heavy drinkers with [high risk (HR)] and without [low risk (LR)] a family history of alcoholism. Thus, four groups of healthy male individuals, low risk with no alcohol-dependence diagnosis (LRNAD), high risk with no alcohol-dependence diagnosis (HRNAD), low-risk alcohol dependent (LRAD) and high-risk alcohol dependent (HRAD), participated in the four experimental sessions given in random order. Basal plasma ACTH levels of LRNAD participants were higher from those of the other three groups of participants. Basal plasma cortisol levels of HRAD participants were higher from those of LRNAD and HRNAD but not of LRAD participants. The stress-induced increases of plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations were more pronounced in LRNAD participants. The alcohol drink prevented the stress-induced increases in plasma ACTH and cortisol of all groups of participants. The self-ratings of anxiety were attenuated in LRNAD and LRAD participants in the alcohol only session and in HRNAD and HRAD participants in the alcohol plus stress session. In conclusion, there are differences in the activity of the HPA-axis as a function of family history and alcohol dependence, while the effect of an alcohol drink on the self-rating of anxiety may be influenced by both family history and stress.
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