Traits Associated With Early Life Stress Among Treatment-Seeking Alcoholics

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria for AD+/ELS+ group: * Between 21 and 65 years of age * Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by successful completion of consent quiz prior to signing consent * Females: Negative urine pregnancy test, not currently breastfeeding * Diagnosed with alcohol dependence according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM IV) * Alcohol consumption within the past month provided by self-report * Specify alcohol as their preferred drug in a clinical interview * Minimum score of moderate level of exposure for at least two categories of ELS or score of severe level of exposure for at least on category of ELS as measured by the CTQ (categories include: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; and physical and emotional neglect; severity level varies by category, and is standardized by the creators of the CTQ) Inclusion criteria for AD+/ELS- group: * Between 21 and 65 years of age * Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by successful completion of consent quiz prior to signing consent * Females: Negative urine pregnancy test, not currently breastfeeding * Diagnosed with alcohol dependence according to DSM IV * Alcohol consumption within the past month provided by self-report * Specify alcohol as their preferred drug in a clinical interview Inclusion criteria for AD-/ELS+ group: * Between 21 and 65 years of age * Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by successful completion of consent quiz prior to signing consent * Females: Negative urine pregnancy test, not currently breastfeeding * Minimum score of moderate level of exposure for at least two categories of ELS or score of severe level of exposure for at least on category of ELS as measured by the CTQ (categories include: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; and physical and emotional neglect; severity level varies by category, and is standardized by the creators of the CTQ) Inclusion criteria for AD-/ELS- group: * Between 21 and 65 years of age * Ability to provide written informed consent as determined by successful completion of consent quiz prior to signing consent * Females: Negative urine pregnancy test, not currently breastfeeding EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Exclusion criteria for AD+/ELS+ group: * Neurological symptoms of the wrist or arm, e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, as determined by history and physical exam * Chronic use of psychotropic medications within four weeks of the study, with the exception of fluoxetine, for which the exclusionary time period is six weeks. Incidental use of psychotropic medications is allowed but any use must be discontinued prior to the study for a time period exceeding 5 half-lives of the medication in question. * Presence of any current or past DSM IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder (e.g, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder), or substance dependence other than alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine. * Major medical problems (e.g., central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), hepatic, renal, endocrine, reproductive) that in the judgment of the MAI, in consultation with relevant Clinical Center consult services, cannot be adequately managed at the Clinical Center * Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body, fear of enclosed spaces, or other standard contraindication to MRI, as determined by self-report * Left-handedness Exclusion criteria for AD+/ELS- group: * Neurological symptoms of the wrist or arm, e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, as determined by history and physical exam * Chronic use of psychotropic medications within four weeks of the study, with the exception of fluoxetine, for which the exclusionary time period is six weeks. Incidental use of psychotropic medications is allowed but any use must be discontinued prior to the study for a time period exceeding 5 half-lives of the medication in question. * Presence of any current or past DSM IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder (e.g, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder), or substance dependence other than alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine. * Major medical problems (e.g., CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, hepatic, renal, endocrine, reproductive) that in the judgment of the MAI, in consultation with relevant Clinical Center consult services, cannot be adequately managed at the Clinical Center * Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body, fear of enclosed spaces, or other standard contraindication to MRI, as determined by self-report Score above minimal for one or more categories of ELS as measured by the CTQ -Left-handedness Exclusion criteria for AD-/ELS+ group: * Neurological symptoms of the wrist or arm, e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, as determined by history and physical exam * Chronic use of psychotropic medications within four weeks of the study, with the exception of fluoxetine, for which the exclusionary time period is six weeks. Incidental use of psychotropic medications is allowed but any use must be discontinued prior to the study for a time period exceeding 5 half-lives of the medication in question. * Presence of any current or past DSM IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder (e.g, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder), or substance dependence other than alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine. * Major medical problems (e.g., CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, hepatic, renal, endocrine, reproductive) that in the judgment of the MAI, in consultation with relevant Clinical Center consult services, cannot be adequately managed at the Clinical Center * Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body, fear of enclosed spaces, or other standard contraindication to MRI, as determined by self-report * Current or past DSM IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence or abuse * Currently seeking treatment for alcohol problems as assessed by self-report * Positive urine drug test at screening (for opiates, cannabinoids, amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines) * Positive breathalyzer test at screening * Alcohol abstainer * Left-handedness Exclusion criteria for AD-/ELS- group: * Neurological symptoms of the wrist or arm, e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, as determined by history and physical exam * Chronic use of psychotropic medications within four weeks of the study, with the exception of fluoxetine, for which the exclusionary time period is six weeks. Incidental use of psychotropic medications is allowed but any use must be discontinued prior to the study for a time period exceeding 5 half-lives of the medication in question. * Presence of any current or past DSM IV diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorder (e.g, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder), or substance dependence other than alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine. * Major medical problems (e.g., CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, hepatic, renal, endocrine, reproductive) that in the judgment of the MAI, in consultation with relevant Clinical Center consult services, cannot be adequately managed at the Clinical Center * Presence of ferromagnetic objects in the body, fear of enclosed spaces, or other standard contraindication to MRI, as determined by self-report * Score above minimal for one or more categories of ELS as measured by the CTQ * Current or past DSM IV diagnosis of alcohol dependence or abuse * Currently seeking treatment for alcohol problems as assessed by self-report * Positive urine drug test at screening (for opiates, cannabinoids, amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines) * Positive breathalyzer test at screening * Alcohol abstainer * Left-handedness