The Differences Between Alcohol Dependence - 1168 Words

Results Scan derived volumetric measurement data was acquired from the analysis team from the University of Pennsylvania and were analyzed for test and control group members. The differences in alcohol dependence(AD) test versus non-alcohol dependence(non-AD) control group means in total(combined), right , and left hippocampal mean volumes, respectively were compared and assessed for statistically significant differences using the t-test of the means for samples with different variances. The significance level was set to 95 percent, making any difference with a p-value lesser than 0.05 statistically insignificant. A secondary analysis using multiple linear regressions to include potential variables was conducted. These included the total†¦show more content†¦Two subjects, one from each group were removed from the study because anatomic abnormalities on the MRI scans that were not related to alcohol use and that needed clinical attention(evidence of previous anoxic injury and congenital malformation). The two subjects were Caucasians; dropping the did not affect age or ethnic difference distribution. The final group of analyzed subjects were 16, 8 from each group. Subjects The mean subject age was equivalent between groups: AD test group 47.25 + 10.71 years, and non-AD control group 47.25 + 10.78 years. There were 7 caucasians and 1 african american in each group. 392 + 259 standard drinks were the reported average number of drinks in the 30 days before the study entry. On average, all drank 19 + 7 standard drinks on those days when they drank. On the other hand, the control group reported an intake of 24 standard drinks on for the previous 30 days before study entry, an average of 3.0 + 3.3 standard drinks each for the entire month, or about 0.75 + 0.8 standard drinks per person each week. The range was 0 to 8 drinks during the month. Of the 8 test subjects, 1 of the test subjects met the SCID criteria for current cannabis abuse but not dependence; 1 of the test subjects met the SCID criteria for current stimulant abuse but not dependence; and 1 met the criteria for current cocaine dependence. None of the non-AD control group met