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Similarities in the Clinical Characteristics Related to Alcohol Dependence in Two Populations
Author(s) -
Schuckit Marc A.,
Smith Tom L.,
Danko George P.,
Reich Theodore,
Bucholz Kathleen K.,
Bierut Laura J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1080/10550490252801594
Subject(s) - alcohol dependence , psychology , alcohol , clinical psychology , social psychology , biology , biochemistry
This report evaluates whether the characteristics associated with alcohol abuse and dependence are similar in two groups of men despite their enrollment in different research projects and the resulting differences in education and related background variables. Data regarding demographic and substance use characteristics and problems were gathered using similar research instruments from the 15‐year follow‐up of 108 highly educated DSM‐III‐R alcohol‐dependent men from the San Diego Prospective Study (Group 1) and 306 similarly diagnosed men with lower education from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) (Group 2). Both groups of alcoholics reported high rates of alcohol‐related problems, a similar maximum number of drinks per day, and similar proportions of drug use/non‐use, although Group 1 subjects were less likely to report alcohol withdrawal and items associated with loss of control. Thus, teachers and clinicians may be able to generalize their knowledge and experience across different groups of alcoholics, using common sense modifications of their expectations based on the general characteristics of the groups involved despite differences in background variables, including education, income, marital status, and employment.