Neuroendocrine support for a relationship between "novelty seeking" and dopaminergic function in alcohol-dependent men.

ABSTRACT

The personality traits "novelty seeking", "harm avoidance", and "reward dependence" were rated using Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire in 20 male inpatients, suffering from moderate to severe alcohol dependence (ICD-10, DSM-III-R). The same individuals' dopamine receptor sensitivity was determined by stimulating a neuroendocrine response with a dopamine receptor agonist (apomorphine). The amount of growth hormone released was measured and taken as a biological parameter for the sensitivity of D2 dopamine receptors located in the hypothalamus. Our data indicate that in abstinent alcohol-dependent men no statistically significant correlation exists between a person's apomorphine-induced growth hormone release and his "harm avoidance" or "reward dependence" score. On the other hand, a significant correlation (r = .47; p = .035) was found between growth hormone release and the person's "novelty seeking" score. This result supports Cloninger's hypothesis by giving neuroendocrine evidence that the personality dimension "novelty seeking" is related to dopaminergic activity in alcohol-dependent men.