'Kids of alcohol addicts 4 times more likely to have drinking problems'

Nimhans study says genes of alcoholic father are passed on to children

Children of alcohol addicts are four times prone to be addicted, finds a study released by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) in July this year.

The research examined around 90 males in the age group of eight to 21 in and around Bengaluru, of whom 50 were from families with a history of alcohol addiction whereas 40 people were from families that did not have a history of alcohol addiction. The study also looked into three generations starting from the participant to his grandfather and first degree relatives (parent’s siblings).

The vulnerability to become alcohol addicted was observed across class and socio-economic status.

“The genes of an alcoholic father are passed on to the offspring. The risk of vulnerability of being an alcoholic is aggravated if the household is chaotic,” said Dr Bharath Holla, assistant professor of psychiatry for the ‘Accelerator Programme for Discovery in Brain Disorders Using Stem Cells’, Nimhans, and one of the authors who conducted the research. Dr Holla added that children also modelled after their parents.

Doctors from Nimhans said they come across many patients, whose parents are addicted to alcohol.

Identifying vulnerability

Symptoms can be identified in children as early as six or seven years old. Children who have a family history of alcohol are prone to have what psychiatrists term ‘externalising temperaments and disorders’, such as hyperactivity, anti-social behaviour, among others.

“Cruelty, rash driving, stealing, refusing to abide by the law are a few of the many traits such people may exhibit,” said Dr Holla. Their brain maturity takes time and therefore has extended adolescence, due to which they take more risks, he said. Dr Naveen Jayaram, psychiatrist, Sakra World Hospital, said the offspring who are vulnerable to alcohol addiction have reward-seeking tendencies.

What is the solution?
Experts said that such tendencies should be kept under check and medical intervention should be sought if uncontrollable.

If the father has severe alcohol addiction, then the environment at home will be difficult for the child.

“This affects psychological growth. Parents should notice such behavioural changes such as impulsiveness, hyperactivity and devise a method that is good for the child,” Dr Diwakar Goutham, consultant, psychiatry and clinical psychiatry, Narayana Health City. Doctors from Nimhans said that surprisingly, the offspring of alcohol addicts were creative too.

This should be identified and channelised so that the tendency to indulge in other activities is low.