# Dissecting Responses to Alcohol in Individuals with Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2020 · $227,604

## Abstract

Individual differences in alcohol responses may identify individuals at risk for developing alcohol use disorders
(AUDs). Research in this field has predominantly excluded individuals with psychiatric disorders limiting the
generalizability of this association. Bipolar disorder has the highest rate of AUDs of any psychiatric diagnosis yet
there is a paucity of study investigating mechanisms that contribute to this comorbidity. Given the high genetic
load of both bipolar disorder and AUDs, familial risk factors likely contribute to the emergence of their comorbidity.
Several of the genes showing overlap in bipolar disorder and AUDs have also been suggested to underlie
individual differences in response to alcohol. Individuals with a family history of AUDs exhibit altered responses
to alcohol, which may identify those at increased risk for developing AUDs. It is unknown if familial risk for bipolar
disorder is associated with altered sensitivity to alcohol which in turn may contribute to elevated risk for
developing comorbid AUDs. This R21 application proposes a preliminary study to begin dissecting how familial
risk factors contribute to individual differences in risk for developing AUDs in bipolar disorder. Specifically,
responses to alcohol and associated alcohol use patterns will be investigated in 100 young adults (equally
divided by familial risk for bipolar disorder but not AUDs, familial risk for bipolar disorder and AUDS, familial risk
for AUDs but not bipolar disorder, and typically developing age- and sex- matched young adults). We hypothesize
that familial risk for bipolar disorder is associated with altered responses to alcohol and, through that mechanism,
increased risk for AUDs. This will be tested through two aims: (Aim 1) identify differences in responses to alcohol
(specifically differences in transdermal alcohol concentration [TAC], heart rate, body sway, and self-report of
intoxication) in individuals with familial risk for bipolar disorder and/or AUDs and (Aim 2) assess relations between
responses to alcohol and alcohol use patterns in individuals with familial risk for bipolar disorder. In the proposed
research, young adults will be clinically phenotyped and family history and recent alcohol and drug use patterns
assessed. Then following standard beverage administration procedures in a simulated bar lab, participants will
complete measures of physiological and subjective responses to alcohol while under the influence of alcohol or
a placebo (within-person, counter-balanced) and wearing an alcohol biosensor that continuously measures TAC.
We predict familial risk for bipolar disorder, compared to familial risk for AUDs and no familial risk subgroup will
show a shorter time to reach peak TAC, higher peak TAC, and faster absorption and elimination rates. We predict
differences in TAC variables will be associated with risky alcohol use patterns in individuals with familial risk for
bipolar disorder. Differences in other measures o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9979519
- **Project number:** 1R21AA027884-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Elizabeth Thomas Cox Lippard
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,604
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-10 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9979519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9979519, Dissecting Responses to Alcohol in Individuals with Familial Risk for Bipolar Disorder (1R21AA027884-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9979519. Licensed CC0.

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