Outlaws and Invaders: The Adaptive Function of Alcohol Abuse in the Family-Helper Supra System

To speak of alcoholics and alcohol abuse is one thing, and we quite often tend to stick to that area, perhaps because, among other things, it is easier to see and treat. Here I wish to speak of alcoholism, the disease, as it affects the family, mainly the children, and also highlight the early age at which the children are affected. I ask you to try to keep an open mind right from now, because I may not be saying what you expect, but, what you will identify and understand.We all know a lot about alcoholism, although we do not always identify it. We find comfort in diagnosing and treating its symptoms, whilst the disease itself continues to run wild, often to the extent of mental and physical injury, as well as insanity and death.We often overlook alcoholism in a family because there is no obvious drunkenness. Drunkenness is only a symptom of the disease. It is the alcoholic’s attempt to ease the pressures of the illness, which is, briefly, the inability to cope with irregular but constant periods of emotional conflict.

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Phylogenetic Analysis of Wing Feather Taxis in Birds: Macroevolutionary Patterns of Genetic Drift?

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/119.4.943 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 119 (4) ◽

pp. 943-954 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kimberly S. Bostwick ◽

Matthew J. Brady

Keyword(s):

Genetic Drift ◽

Dna Hybridization ◽

Character Evolution ◽

Adaptive Function ◽

Ecological Traits ◽

Wing Feather ◽

The Family ◽

Tree Length ◽

Preliminary Consideration ◽

Selective Regime

Abstract Most recent research on character evolution attempts to identify either (1) homology or homoplasy (systematic use of the term character), or (2) the adaptive function or selective regime underlying the origin of a character (“adaptationist” use of the term character). There have been relatively few serious considerations or examples of neutral character evolution above the molecular level. Wing feather taxis in birds, the presence or absence of the fifth secondary feather, provides an intriguing possible example of nonadaptive character evolution. We examine the phylogenetic pattern of wing feather taxis among birds to (1) determine its polarity in modern birds (Neornithes), (2) hypothesize the frequency and taxonomic locations of changes in the taxic state, (3) test whether taxis is relatively labile or inert phylogenetically, and (4) allow preliminary consideration of whether adaptive or selectively neutral processes have produced those patterns. Minimum tree length necessary to explain the distribution of wing feather taxis was calculated at the family level using Sibley and Ahlquist's DNA–DNA hybridization tree (1990). Parsimony analysis indicates that the eutaxic condition (fifth secondary present) is ancestral in modern birds, and that diastataxy (fifth secondary absent) has originated independently at least 7 times and reversed to the eutaxic condition on at least 13 occasions within modern birds. Despite multiple independent origins and reversals, wing feather taxis is extremely conserved throughout the tree, such that one or the other state completely characterizes many large multiordinal or multifamilial clades. Lack of obvious correlations with morphological and ecological traits suggest that no single adaptive scenario will explain the evolution of wing feather taxis. Instead, the biological details and phylogenetic patterns make nonadaptive, or selectively neutral evolutionary processes, such as genetic drift, an equally if not more plausible explanation for the distribution of wing feather taxis.

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Parental alcohol abuse and eating behaviors in adolescents

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1515/pjph-2015-0053 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 125 (4) ◽

pp. 194-196

Author(s):

Anna Cur ◽

Kinga Szymona ◽

Marek Domański ◽

Aneta Opolska ◽

Mariusz Jojczuk

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Eating Behaviors ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Problem Drinking ◽

Eating Disorder Inventory ◽

The Family ◽

Future Work ◽

Parental Alcohol

AbstractIntroduction.Parental alcohol abuse hinders a child’s development, which means that these children are more exposed to mental health problems.Aim.The aim of this study was to analyze the link between the intensity of eating disorders in youngsters and family alcoholism.Material and methods.The study was conducted among adolescents in the Lubelskie province. 1766 students, aged 12 to 22 were participants in the study. The authors used a method called Eating Disorder Inventory, as well as a self-designed questionnaire that included assessing the characteristics of every family.Results.The findings of this study show that increased symptoms of eating disorders in children and teenagers correlates with alcohol dependency in the family. Adolescent children of alcoholics have higher levels of conflict identifying feelings and emotions (hunger, security) correctly. They were more likely to deem their actions as ineffective, as well as they were more frequently prone to binge eating than individuals who were not affected by drinking parents.Conclusions.There is a need for some future work and preventive measures to be taken in families affected by problem drinking.

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Families, Children and Alcoholism

Children Australia ◽

10.1017/s0312897000007591 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 14-17

Author(s):

Maurie Hasen

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Good Reason ◽

Focus On The Family ◽

The Family

AbstractIn dealing with alcohol abuse, a focus on the family is of importance. Conversely, in dealing with problematic children or families there is good reason to recognise the possibility of alcohol abuse. Awareness of the possible adaptiveness of alcohol in the family may assist the professional in helping the family to move.

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Correlates of Family Competence in Families with Paternal Alcohol Abuse

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1998.83.3.867 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 83 (3) ◽

pp. 867-880 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bente S. M. Haugland ◽

Odd E. Havik

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Psychological Symptoms ◽

Family Factors ◽

Drinking Behaviour ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Family Competence ◽

Systems Model ◽

The Family ◽

Competence Scale

The present study explored factors correlated with family competence in families with paternal alcohol abuse ( N = 20). Family competence is measured by the Family Competence Scale in the Beavers Systems Model of Family Functioning. Based on a review of the literature, socioeconomic status, parents' psychological symptoms, and drinking behaviour were selected as possible correlates of family competence. The findings indicated that family competence was correlated with both parents' reports of psychological symptoms as measured by SCL–90. The strongest correlate of family competence was, however, the socioeconomic status of the family. The only aspect of drinking behaviour significantly correlated with family competence was severity of the fathers' alcohol abuse. These results indicate the importance of including individual factors, family factors, and socioeconomic measures in the assessment of families with paternal alcohol abuse.

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Abuse of alcohol among farmers: Prevalence and associated factors

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0254904 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0254904

Author(s):

Roberta Machado Alves ◽

Emelynne Gabrielly de Oliveira Santos ◽

Isabelle Ribeiro Barbosa

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Poisson Regression ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Alcohol Misuse ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Work Characteristics ◽

Lower Prevalence ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Family ◽

Cage Questionnaire

We sought to identify the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol abuse among farmers living in a medium-sized municipality in northeastern Brazil during 2019 and 2020. Trained interviewers applied the standardized questionnaire to 450 participants. Sociodemographic, health, income and work characteristics were investigated. The tracking of alcohol misuse was done using the CAGE questionnaire (Cut down, Annoyed by criticism, Guilty and Eye-opener), being the cut-off point ≥ 2. Poisson Regression was applied with robust estimation to verify the reasons of prevalence (RP) in bivariate and multivariate analysis. The prevalence of alcohol abuse among farmers was 32% (95% CI 27.8–36.4). Factors such as being male, having a diagnosis of mental disorder in the family, being a smoker, and using drugs were associated with the higher prevalence of the outcome. Being 60 years old or older was associated with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse. These results indicate the need for social support to this group of workers in the context of occupational health.

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Ekbom syndrome in a visually impaired patient with alcohol abuse and OCD: A case report

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1624 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s829-s829

Author(s):

A. Portilla Fernandez ◽

L. Montes Reula ◽

H. Saiz García ◽

R. Ortigosa Aguilar ◽

A.S. Rosero Enriquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Case Report ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Visually Impaired ◽

Compulsive Behavior ◽

Impaired Patient ◽

The Family ◽

Ekbom Syndrome ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Long Acting

This is a case report of a 63-year-old patient with no previous attentions in mental health. He is referred by his general practitioner because he presents wounds all over his body. He reports that there is a plague of bugs at his place that bite him everywhere. Therefore, he scratches continuously, trying to remove the stingers, and injuring himself all over. The family ensures there are no bugs at all, but the patient threatens to set fire to the house in order to extinguish the plague or even kill himself. An OCD with cleaning compulsive behavior was also present since many years, as well as an alcohol abuse. The patient required hospitalization in the psychiatry service. Organic cause for the disorder was discarded. Long-acting injectable aripiprazol was introduced and the patient stopped drinking. Progressively, the delusional symptoms began to subside. Now he maintains no awareness of illness but he says the bugs are disappearing and, at least, they do not bite him anymore.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Some Relationships among Affection, Aggression and Alcohol Abuse in the Family Setting

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1998.86.3.1051 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 86 (3) ◽

pp. 1051-1060 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Richard J. Shuntich ◽

Diana Loh ◽

David Katz

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Family Environment ◽

The Family ◽

Parental Affection ◽

Parental Aggression ◽

Questionnaire Studies ◽

Family Setting ◽

The Relationship ◽

Parental Alcohol

Three questionnaire studies involving 101, 270, and 144 college students examined the relationship between affectionate behaviors and aggressive behaviors in the family environment as rated by the college students. Measures of affection and aggression were significantly negatively associated in nearly all analyses. Participants' ratings of parental alcohol abuse were positively associated with measures of parental aggression and negatively correlated with measures of parental affection.

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