When paternal substance use disorder extends beyond his son's sixth year, significant increases in the child's internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors were found. Decreased salivary cortisol responses to an anticipated stressor were found among prepubertal sons of fathers with a substance use disorder. Lower preadolescent anticipatory cortisol responses were associated with regular monthly cigarette smoking and regular monthly marijuana use among these subjects once they achieved adolescence. Preliminary findings indicate that patients with co-morbid bipolar disorder and alcohol dependence have very high rates of the mixed subtype of bipolar disorder and present with severe, mixed, manic, and depressive symptoms. Their background characteristics are relevant for a long history of both heavy alcohol use and of bipolar disorder.
Findings suggest a differential alcohol use profile among bipolar alcoholic patients.
Male children of substance-abusing fathers begin alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use at an earlier age than do children of fathers without a substance abuse or psychiatric history. Male children of substance-abusing men demonstrate greater dysregulation of behavior, emotion, and intellectual processes than do boys whose fathers do not have a substance abuse or psychiatric disorder. Children of substance-abusing fathers have approximately twice the rate of health service utilization than do other children and are less likely to receive services once the need is present.