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Alcoholism and personality.

Roger T Mulder1

  • 1Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, New Zealand. roger.mulder@chmeds.ac.nz

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|April 4, 2002
PubMed
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Research consistently links antisocial behavior and hyperactivity to alcoholism, but no specific "alcoholic personality" exists. Personality traits explain only a small portion of alcohol dependence risk.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The concept of an "alcoholic personality" has been explored throughout the 20th century.
  • Understanding the relationship between personality traits and alcohol dependence is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review methodological issues, research designs, and current theories on the association between alcoholism and personality.
  • To critically evaluate the evidence linking specific personality variables to the risk and development of alcohol dependence.

Main Methods:

  • A literature search was conducted using computerized databases.
  • Four major research design strategies were employed: cross-sectional, high-risk, longitudinal, and genetic epidemiology studies.

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Main Results:

  • Cross-sectional studies suggest impulsivity/novelty seeking and neuroticism/negative emotionality are linked to alcoholism.
  • Longitudinal studies consistently associate antisocial behavior and hyperactivity with later alcoholism, while negative emotionality may be a consequence.
  • Genetic studies indicate personality measures, particularly conduct and antisocial behaviors, play a modest role in the genetic influence of alcoholism.

Conclusions:

  • Antisocial behavior and hyperactivity are the most consistent correlates of alcoholism but are not specific to it.
  • Personality variables alone explain a small fraction of the risk for alcohol dependence; no specific "alcoholic personality" or unique vulnerability markers exist.
  • Current attempts to link alcoholism with poorly validated personality models are premature.