AUTHOR=Evans Brittany E., Greaves-Lord Kirstin, Euser Anja S., Koning Tess, Tulen Joke H. M., Franken Ingmar H. A., Huizink Anja C. TITLE=Blunted Heart Rate Response as a Potential Endophenotype of Substance Use Disorders: Evidence from High-Risk Youth JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=3 YEAR=2015 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2015.00066 DOI=10.3389/fped.2015.00066 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=BackgroundChildren of parents with a substance use disorder (CPSUD) are at increased risk for developing problematic substance use later in life. Endophenotypes may help to clarify the mechanism behind this increased risk. However, substance use and externalizing symptoms may confound the relation between dysregulated physiological stress responding and familial risk for substance use disorders (SUDs).MethodsWe examined whether heart rate (HR) responses differed between CPSUDs and controls. Participants (aged 11–20 years) were CPSUDs (N = 75) and controls (N = 363), semi-matched on the basis of sex, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity. HR was measured continuously during a psychosocial stress procedure. Substance use and externalizing symptoms were self-reported and mother-reported, respectively.ResultsA piecewise, mixed-effects model was fit for HR across the stress procedure, with fixed effects for HR reactivity and HR recovery. CPSUDs showed a blunted HR recovery. CPSUDs reported drinking more frequently, were more likely to use tobacco daily, were more likely to report ever use of cannabis and used cannabis more frequently, and exhibited more externalizing symptoms. These variables did not confound the relation between familial risk for SUDs and a blunted HR recovery.ConclusionOur findings suggest dysregulated autonomic nervous system (ANS) responding in CPSUDs and contribute to the accumulating evidence for ANS dysregulation as a potential endophenotype for SUDs.