Problem drinking and family history

Data on SADQ, GHQ, disciplinary, financial and relationship problems were collected from 103 problem drinkers and 96 controls. Problem drinkers were significantly more severely affected than controls on all measures except financial problems. Of the problem drinkers, 55% had a positive family history, and this group were more severely affected on SADQ, GHQ and financial problem measures than family history negative subjects. The most severely affected group were those with a positive family history who also reported significant childhood problems, and the least affected were those without a family history who did not report significant childhood problems.