Premorbid risk factors for alcohol dependence in antisocial personality disorder.

BACKGROUND

Many, but not all, types of antisocial personality disorders (ASP) are complicated by alcohol dependence. Therefore, some additional risk factors may exist for alcohol dependence co-occurring with ASP. We studied whether severe childhood conduct disorder and a family history of alcohol dependence are possible risk factors for the development of alcohol dependence in ASP.

METHODS

The subjects were 81 male Japanese criminals diagnosed with DSM-III-R ASP. Relative risks of alcohol dependence for severe conduct disorder and for a positive family history were estimated by using a multiple logistic model.

RESULTS

Forty-three subjects (53.0%) met criteria for DSM-III-R alcohol dependence. The relative risk of alcohol dependence for severe conduct disorder (n = 44), compared with mild conduct disorder, was 4.1; whereas the relative risk for a positive family history (n = 31), relative to a negative family history, was 1.9. Severe childhood conduct disorder was also associated with severe adulthood antisocial behavior and an earlier onset of alcohol dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that severe childhood conduct disorder and a positive family history of alcohol dependence are independent premorbid risk factors for developing alcohol dependence among persons with ASP.