Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry (생물정신의학)

The Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry (대한생물정신의학회)
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The Difference of the $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ Digit Length Ratio between Type I and Type II Alcoholism

알코올 의존 제I형 및 II형 환자에서 검지-약지 길이 비의 차이

  • 한창우 (계요의료재단 계요병원) ;
  • 이유상 (용인정신병원) ;
  • 함웅 (계요의료재단 계요병원) ;
  • 원성두 (계요의료재단 계요병원)
  • Received : 2011.10.30
  • Accepted : 2011.11.10
  • Published : 2011.11.30
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Abstract

Objectives The second to fourth digit ratio (2D : 4D) is known to reflect testosterone level during intrauterine period. Testosterone is essential for masculinization of brain. Cloninger's type II alcoholism is characterized by early age at onset and largely limited to males. Compared with type I alcoholism, type II alcoholism is thought to be masculine. There is a possibility that the digit ratio of type II alcoholism is low compared with type I. We examined digit length ratio in Cloninger's type I and II alcoholism to understand the effects of intrauterine testosterone on the development of alcoholism. Methods The participants were 87 alcohol dependent patients. We divided two subtypes of patients by Irwin's symptom list, based on Cloninger's concept. We captured the images of both palms by the scanner and measured the lengths of digits by the graphic program. Then we analyzed the digit ratios by independent-sample t-test. Results The mean 2D : 4D of type I was 0.942 (right), 0.952 (left). The mean 2D : 4D of type II was 0.927 (right), 0.940 (left). In both hands, 2D : 4D of type II was significantly lower than type I. Conclusions Type II alcoholism showed masculine type of digit length ratio compared with type I. It suggests the exposure of testosterone during intrauterine period might play an important role in determining the course and feature of alcoholism.

Keywords

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