Hazardous alcohol consumption and risk of alcohol dependence present different neurophysiological correlates
*Corresponding author: Luis Núñez-Jaramillo, PhD. División de Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad de Quintana Roo. Avda. Erick Paolo Martínez, s/n, esq. Avda. 4 de Marzo. Colonia Magisterial. CP 77039. Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México.
E-mail: lnunez@uqroo.edu.mx
Introduction: Hazardous alcohol consumption (HAC) is a pattern of alcohol use that may result in harm for the user and/or for those around them. Prior research has suggested that HAC and alcohol dependence share some neurophysiological features but differ in others.
Aim: To determine whether HAC and alcohol dependence presented different neurophysiological correlates.
Subjects and methods: Two hundred subjects were screened for HAC or alcohol dependence. A quantitative electroencephalo-graphic analysis of delta, theta, alpha and beta absolute power, relative power and mean frequency in subjects with HAC but not alcohol dependence, subjects with risk of alcohol dependence and controls was performed.
Results: One hundred and fourteen subjects met inclusion criteria. The HAC group presented with higher beta absolute power and relative power, as well as a lower beta mean frequency than the control group, while the group with risk of alcohol dependence presented lower delta absolute power than controls.
Conclusions: HAC and risk of alcohol dependence present different neurophysiological correlates. There is an important effect of the severity of alcohol dependence on neurophysiological correlates of this condition. Our results support the existence of two different types of behavioral disinhibition.
Objetivo Determinar si el CRA y la dependencia al alcohol presentan correlatos neurofisiológicos diferentes.
Sujetos y métodos Doscientos sujetos realizaron la prueba de detección de CRA y riesgo de dependencia al alcohol (DEP). Se realizó un estudio de electroencefalografía cuantitativa para determinar la potencia absoluta, la potencia relativa y la frecuencia media de las bandas delta, theta, alfa y beta en sujetos con CRA, con DEP y controles.
Resultados Un total de 114 sujetos cumplió los criterios de inclusión. El grupo con CRA presentó mayor potencia absoluta, mayor potencia relativa y menor frecuencia media de la banda beta en comparación con los controles, mientras que el grupo con DEP presentó menor potencia absoluta de la banda delta que los controles.
Conclusiones El DEP y el CRA presentan diferentes correlatos neurofisiológicos. Hay un efecto importante de la gravedad de la dependencia al alcohol sobre sus correlatos neurofisiológicos. Nuestros resultados apoyan la existencia de dos tipos distintos de desinhibición conductual.
