Biopsychosocial Pathways to Alcohol-Related Problems: Biopsychosocial Pathways to Alcohol

Interaction Effects of DRD2 Genetic Polymorphism and Interpersonal Stress on Problematic Gaming in College Students

Problematic gaming has become a public concern, influenced both by genetic factors and stressful environments. Studies have reported the effects of dopamine-related genes and interpersonal stressors on problematic gaming, but gene and environment interaction (G × E) studies have not been conducted. In this study, we investigated the interaction effects of dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) polymorphisms and interpersonal stress on problematic gaming and the mediating effect of avoidant coping to reveal the mechanism of the G × E process. We recruited 168 college students (mean age = 22; male 63.1%) and genotyped their DRD2 C957T (rs6277) and Taq1 (rs1800497) polymorphisms. The results of the mediated moderation analysis showed that, when experiencing interpersonal stressors, individuals with both the C957T T allele and the Taq1 A1 allele showed more elevated problematic gaming scores than non-carriers. Moreover, the interaction effect of the combined DRD2 polymorphisms and interpersonal stress was significantly mediated by avoidant coping. These findings suggest that the influence of interpersonal stress on problematic gaming can be changed as a function of DRD2 genotypes, which may be because of the avoidant coping styles of C957T T allele and Taq1 A1 allele carriers in response to stress.

Risk for Substance Use Disorders in young adulthood: Associations with developmental experiences of homelessness, foster care, and adverse childhood experiences

BACKGROUND

Multiple developmental risk factors for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) during young adulthood have been identified. In this investigation, we examined the impact of homelessness, foster care, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prior to 12th grade on the development of three common SUDs during young adulthood-Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Tobacco Use Disorder (TUD) and Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Our hypothesis was that while both homelessness and ACEs are significant risk factors for young adult SUDs, foster care involvement might convey protection.

METHODS

Using nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, measures of ACEs were derived from the CDC-Kaiser ACE study, and DSM-V SUD diagnoses were derived from items originally based on DSM-IV. SUD diagnoses were binned into "mild", "moderate", and "severe" groupings. Survey-based logistic models were used to estimate risks of SUDs while controlling for demographics.

RESULTS

The results suggest that the experience of homelessness prior to 12th grade in addition to ACEs were significantly associated with the development in young adulthood of the most severe forms of AUD and TUD and all severity levels of CUD. Foster care was not associated with either risk or protection from SUDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of homelessness during development may be viewed as another detrimental ACE that is a risk factor for the most common SUDs in young adulthood. Given the magnitude of the current epidemic of homelessness in the U.S., these results should raise substantial concern.

Developmental Pathways from Child Maltreatment to Adolescent Substance Use: The Roles of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Mother-Child Relationships

While many studies have identified a significant relation between child maltreatment and adolescent substance use, the developmental pathways linking this relation remain sparsely explored. The current study examines posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, mother-child relationships, and internalizing and externalizing problems as potential longitudinal pathways through which child maltreatment influences adolescent substance use. Structural equation modeling was conducted on 883 adolescents drawn from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). The pathways of PTS symptoms linked physical and sexual abuse to substance use, and the pathways of mother-child relationships linked emotional abuse and neglect to substance use. None of the four types of maltreatment affected substance use via internalizing or externalizing problems. The findings suggest that intervention efforts aimed at addressing posttraumatic stress symptoms and improving mother-child relationship quality may be beneficial in reducing substance use among adolescents with child maltreatment histories.

Metacognition in persons with substance abuse: Findings and implications for occupational therapists

Background

Addiction is a massive public health problem in which a person’s occupational life is compromised and metacognition is impaired. Occupational therapists may play a critical role in addiction rehabilitation, but more information about patterns of metacognitive deficit co-occurring with addictive behaviour is needed to develop interventions that specifically target these impairments.

Purpose

This study examined whether persons with addiction(s) demonstrated specific patterns of metacognitive deficit on four subscales of metacognition measuring self-reflectivity, understanding others’ thoughts, decentration, and mastery.

Method

Using a mixed-methods design, qualitative data were obtained via the Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview, which was then rated using a quantitative scale, the Metacognition Assessment Scale–Abbreviated.

Findings

Persons with addiction(s) demonstrated significant impairments in metacognitive mastery but not other areas of metacognition.

Implications

Occupational therapy interventions for addiction should focus on improving metacognitive mastery. Future efficacy studies of interventions to improve mastery and overall outcomes are warranted.