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Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on May 24, 2005
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agh165
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Medical Council on Alcohol. All rights reserved
Received February 9, 2005
Revised April 4, 2005
Accepted April 6, 2005

Article

SALIVARY CORTISOL: A PREDICTOR OF CONVICTIONS FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL?

THOMAS G. BROWN 1*, CHRISTINA GIANOULAKIS 2, JACQUES TREMBLAY 2, LOUISE NADEAU 3, MAURICE DONGIER 2, N. M. K. NG YING KIN 2, PETER SERAGANIAN 4, and MARIE CLAUDE OUIMET 5

1 Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Pavillon Foster Addiction Treatment Program, St Philippe de Laprairie, Quebec, Canada
2 Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Quebec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3 Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
4 Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
5 Douglas Hospital Research Center, Verdun, Quebec, Canada

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
THOMAS G. BROWN, E-mail: thomas.brown{at}mcgill.ca


  Abstract

Aims: To examine the relationship between salivary cortisol and frequency of past driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) convictions. Methods: A total of 104 males with previous DUI convictions (from one to eight) and mean age of 44.7 years were assessed on measures characterizing repeat DUI offenders, including sociodemographic information, alcohol use behaviours, biological indices of the organic consequences of chronic abuse, negative consequences of excessive drinking, past DUI conviction history, impulse control, and antisocial behaviour tendencies. Saliva samples were taken approximately every 30 min over a 6 h period during an exhaustive multidimensional assessment protocol, and were then assayed to obtain cortisol responses. Results: Blunted cortisol response, typically observed in alcoholics and in high-risk non-alcoholics, was associated with increased number of past DUI convictions. This association was particularly pronounced in multiple DUI offenders, and was stronger than, and independent of, other measures of alcohol use severity and chronicity commonly used for DUI assessment. Conclusions: Cortisol response may be useful in understanding the mediators underlying repeat DUI offending and the frequent failure of intervention efforts in curbing DUI behaviour.


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