Pathogenesis (development of disease)
Alcohol dependence can be divided into a primary and a secondary form.In the primary form, psychosocial factors, stress and the personality structure of the affected person play an important role.In the secondary form, alcohol dependence occurs as a result of a pre-existing psychiatric disease.
Alcohol dependence is thought to be related to a deficiency of dopamine receptors in the brain.
Etiology (causes)
Biographical causes
- Genetic exposure to parents, grandparents with high alcohol tolerance
- Genetic risk depending on gene polymorphisms:
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Genes: OPRM1
- SNP: rs1799971 in the gene OPRM1
- Allele constellation: AG (stronger alcohol craving).
- Allele constellation: GG (stronger alcohol craving).
- Genes/SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphism):
- Genetic risk depending on gene polymorphisms:
- Food preference in childhood: high consumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods.
- Occupations
- Employees in the catering industry
- Employees of the maritime industry and port staff
- Employees in the service industry
- Politicians
- Impulsiveness in the family
- Experience of violence in the family
- Divorce:
- Men: 6 times increased risk
- Women: 7.3-fold increased risk
- Death of partner:
- Men: 3.9 times increased risk
- Women: 4.1-fold increased risk
Behavioral causes
- Drug use
- Cannabis (hashish and marijuana) – cannabis users had a 5.43-fold increased risk of developing an alcohol problem, according to one study
- Psycho-social situation
- Current conflicts
- Unemployment
- Social isolation
- Stress
Causes related to disease
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Mental disorders such as schizophrenia or mania
- Severe non-treatable illnesses (e.g., progressive tumor disease)
