Neuroendocrine responses to fenfluramine and its relationship to personality in alcoholism.

Full Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between personality and serotonergic reactivity in alcohol dependence. Personality characteristics were assessed according to the Temperament and Character model of Cloninger, the five-factor model of McCrae and Costa, Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking as well as Eysenck's impulsiveness/venturesomeness. Placebo-controlled prolactin response to the serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitor/releaser fenfluramine served as an indicator for the reactivity of serotonergic neurotransmission. Forty abstinent alcohol-dependent men were subdivided into high and low prolactin responders according to their level of neuroendocrine response. High responders were characterized by decreased harm avoidance while their extraversion and venturesomeness scores were increased in comparison to low responders. The data demonstrates that harm avoidance on the one hand and extraversion/venturesomeness on the other are inversely correlated to serotonergic neurotransmission. These results support a specific relationship between personality traits and the serotonergic system.

Author information

Author/s: Weijers, H G (HG); Wiesbeck, G A (GA); Jakob, F (F); Böning, J (J);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Policlinic, University Hospital of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany. weijers(-atsign-)mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996) (J Neural Transm), published in Austria. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-; vol 108 (issue 8-9) : pp 1093-105

Dates: Created 2001/11/21; Completed 2002/04/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11716144, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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