Implications of family history of alcoholism, antisocial personality, and sex differences in alcohol dependence.

In this study of 210 male and female alcoholic inpatients, significant associations were found 1) between antisocial personality diagnosis and early onset of all stages in alcohol dependence; 2) between bilineal family history of alcoholism and greater frequency of the consequences of impaired control, withdrawal symptoms, and the pathologic symptoms associated with chronic alcoholism; and 3) between being female and older at onset of the initial, but not final, stages of alcoholism and having more symptoms associated with chronic alcohol use. Antisocial personality, type of family history, and sex of the proband were not interactive but contributed separate additive effects.