The Relatinship Between Alcohol Consumption, Perceived Stress, and CRHR1 Genotype on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Rural African Americans

Ezemenari M Obasi; Elizabeth A Shirtcliff; Gene H Brody; James Mackillop; Delishia M Pittman; Lucia Cavanagh; Robert A Philibert

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832

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The Relatinship Between Alcohol Consumption, Perceived Stress, and CRHR1 Genotype on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Rural African Americans

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The Relatinship Between Alcohol Consumption, Perceived Stress, and CRHR1 Genotype on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Rural African Americans

Ezemenari M Obasi, Elizabeth A Shirtcliff, Gene H Brody, James Mackillop, Delishia M Pittman, Lucia Cavanagh and Robert A Philibert

Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.6, 832

06/01/2015

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832

PMCID: PMC4471353

PMID: 26150798

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Abstract

Objective: Rurally situated African Americans suffer from stress and drug-related health disparities. Unfortunately, research on potential mechanisms that underlie this public health problem have received limited focus in the scientific literature. This study investigated the effects of perceived stress, alcohol consumption, and genotype on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) Axis. Methods: A rural sample of African American emerging adults (n = 84) completed a battery of assessments and provided six samples of salivary cortisol at wakeup, 30 min post wakeup, 90 min post wakeup, 3:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 4:30 PM. Results: Participants with a TT genotype of the CRHR1 (rs4792887) gene tended to produce the most basal cortisol throughout the day while participants with a CC genotype produced the least amount. Increased levels of perceived stress or alcohol consumption were associated with a blunted cortisol awakening response (CAR). Moreover, the CAR was obliterated for participants who reported both higher stress and alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Perceived stress and alcohol consumption had a deleterious effect on the HPA-Axis. Furthermore, genotype predicted level of cortisol production throughout the day. These findings support the need to further investigate the relationship between stress dysregulation, drug-use vulnerability, and associated health disparities that affect this community.

Stress

Psychology

African Americans

alcohol

Health Disparities

Original Research

Crhr1

HPA-axis

Details

Title: Subtitle: The Relatinship Between Alcohol Consumption, Perceived Stress, and CRHR1 Genotype on the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Rural African Americans
Creators: Ezemenari M Obasi
Elizabeth A Shirtcliff
Gene H Brody
James Mackillop
Delishia M Pittman
Lucia Cavanagh
Robert A Philibert
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Frontiers in Psychology, Vol.6, 832
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00832
PMID: 26150798
PMCID: PMC4471353
NLM abbreviation: Front Psychol
ISSN: 1664-1078
eISSN: 1664-1078
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A
Grant note: 3P30DA027827-08S2 / National Institutes of Health (nih_________::NIH) 1R03DA027481-01 / National Institutes of Health (nih_________::NIH) 5R01DA034739-03 / National Institutes of Health (nih_________::NIH)
Language: English
Date published: 06/01/2015
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984072066502771

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