Response to alcohol in women: role of the menstrual cycle and a family history of alcoholism

Abstract

The present study determined whether: (1) the response to alcohol varied as a function of menstrual cycle phase and (2) women with a paternal history of alcoholism (FHP) were less sensitive to the effects of alcohol compared to women without a family history of alcoholism (FHN). The behavioral effects of alcohol (0.00, 0.25, and 0.75 g/kg) were evaluated in 21 FHN and 24 FHP women; each dose was tested during both the midfollicular and late luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Baseline negative mood was increased during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (increased Beck Depression scores and decreased Vigor, Arousal, and Friendly scores). Alcohol increased ratings of Drug Liking and Good Drug Effect more in the luteal phase than the follicular phase. FHP women had greater negative mood during the luteal phase and some of these dysphoric effects were increased by alcohol more in FHP women than FHN women. Alcohol impaired performance, with no group or menstrual cycle differences. However, consistent with previous studies, FHP women were less impaired by alcohol than FHN women on the balance task. These data indicate that (1) the differences in response to alcohol across the menstrual cycle are subtle, although alcohol is liked more during the luteal phase; (2) increases in dysphoric mood during the luteal phase are more pronounced in FHP women compared to FHN women, particularly after alcohol; and (3) the differences observed in response to alcohol between FHP and FHN women are less pronounced than previously shown in men.

Fig. 1

Top panel: time course function of breath alcohol levels as a function of group and menstrual cycle phase for the 0.75 g/kg dose of alcohol only. X-axes: 0 indicates predrug baseline. Data points show means (FHN =21; FHP = 24), vertical bars show ± 1 S.E.M. Some error bars have been omitted for clarity and the absence of any bars indicates 1 S.E.M. fell within the area of the data symbol. Bottom panel: peak breath alcohol levels for the two active doses of alcohol as a function of group and phase. Data points show means (FHN =21; FHP = 24); vertical bars show + 1 S.E.M.

Fig. 2

Peak scores on the Beck Depression Inventory, ratings of Good Drug Effect and Drug Liking as a function of group, menstrual cycle phase and alcohol dose. Data points show means (FHN =21; FHP = 24); vertical bars show + 1 S.E.M.

Fig. 3

Time course function for the balance task as a function of group and menstrual cycle phase. For clarity, only the 0.75 g/kg dose of alcohol is illustrated and the placebo data represent the mean for the two groups combined across the two phases. Balance scores could range from 0–60. X-axes: 0 indicates predrug baseline. Data points show means (FHN =21; FHP = 24), vertical bars show ± 1 S.E.M. Some error bars have been omitted for clarity and the absence of any bars indicates 1 S.E.M. fell within the area of the data symbol.

Fig. 4

Peak scores for selected performance tasks, including balance, the DSST (number correct) and delayed word recall as a function of group, menstrual cycle phase and alcohol dose. Data points show means (FHN =21; FHP = 24); vertical bars show + 1 S.E.M.

Fig. 5

Peak scores for the balance task compared across the FHN group (21), the FHP light drinkers (LD = 12) and the FHP moderate drinkers (MD = 12) as a function of alcohol dose. For clarity, data are collapsed across the two menstrual cycle phases. Data points show means and vertical bars show + 1 S.E.M. * above a bar indicates a significant difference between that group and the FHN group.