Project Summary

Nelly Alia-Klein, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2005) of Brookhaven National Laboratory, aims to use psychiatric, DNA-based and imaging analyses to study the relationship between genes and domestic abuse in alcoholics. Dr. Alia-Klein plans to assess a variant in the monoamine oxidase a (MAOA) gene, clinical history, neuropsychological test results and brain activity in alcoholic domestic abusers in response to two inhibitory control paradigms. MAOA is a gene related to emotions and behavior and she hypothesizes that low levels of MAOA in the prefrontal cortex will be associated with more severe and frequent levels of abuse. This study should increase an understanding of individual (vs. societal) factors that contribute to domestic abuse and provide tentative answers as to whether genetic and neurobiological factors provide added utility in the identification and treatment of alcoholics who engage in domestic abuse.

Program Area: ADDICTION-GENERAL\Alcohol

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