Prolactin and cortisol levels following acute alcohol challenges in women with and without a family history of alcoholism

Abstract

In a pilot study 5 matched pairs of female social drinkers received both 0.56 g/kg alcohol and placebo in a double-blind crossover design. Family history positive (FHP) women had biological fathers who met criteria for alcohol dependence, and FHN women had no relatives who met these criteria. FHP and FHN women had BALs about 70 mg/dl 60 min after alcohol. FHP subjects had significantly lower prolactin levels 40, 60 and 80 min following alcohol, but higher cortisol levels 130 and 150 min following alcohol. No significant differences in hormone levels occurred after placebo.