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Evaluation of a Brief Web-Based Genetic Feedback Intervention for Reducing Alcohol-Related Health Risks Associated with ALDH2

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

There is increasing interest in health interventions that incorporate genetic risk information. Although genetic feedback has been evaluated as an adjunct to smoking cessation interventions, its efficacy for reducing alcohol-related risks is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a web-based alcohol intervention incorporating genetic feedback and risk information specific to ALDH2 genotype. The ALDH2*2 variant is associated with partial protection against alcohol dependence but confers significantly increased risk for alcohol-related cancers as a function of alcohol exposure. Two hundred Asian-American young adults were randomly assigned to receive web-based personalized genetic feedback or attention-control feedback. Genetic feedback included health risk information specific to alcohol-related cancer or alcohol dependence, depending on genotype. Outcomes included postintervention drinking behavior and theoretical correlates of behavior change. Genetic feedback and risk information resulted in significant reductions in 30-day drinking frequency and quantity among participants with the ALDH2*1/*2 genotype. Genetic feedback was rated highly by participants and also showed some effects on theoretical correlates of behavior change. Results provide initial evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and brief efficacy of web-based genetic feedback for reducing alcohol-related health risks associated with ALDH2 genotype.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) grants F31AA016440 and K02AA00269 and a Small Grant Award from the University of Washington Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute. Genotyping services were provided by the Genomics and Molecular Biology Core of the Alcohol Research Center Indiana, which is funded by NIAAA grant P60AA07611-20. The authors thank Melanie Pepin, MS, CGC, for her assistance with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Christian S. Hendershot Ph.D.

  2. Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions (CASAA), University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Christian S. Hendershot Ph.D.

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jacqueline M. Otto B.S.

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Susan E. Collins Ph.D.

  5. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Tiebing Liang Ph.D.

  6. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA

    Tamara L. Wall Ph.D.

  7. Psychology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA

    Tamara L. Wall Ph.D.

  8. Veterans Medical Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA

    Tamara L. Wall Ph.D.

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  1. Christian S. Hendershot Ph.D.
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  2. Jacqueline M. Otto B.S.
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  3. Susan E. Collins Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Christian S. Hendershot Ph.D..

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Hendershot, C.S., Otto, J.M., Collins, S.E. et al. Evaluation of a Brief Web-Based Genetic Feedback Intervention for Reducing Alcohol-Related Health Risks Associated with ALDH2 . ann. behav. med. 40, 77–88 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9207-3

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