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Socio-contextual factors are linked to differences in the course of problem drinking in midlife: A discordant-twin
Daniel M Blonigen1,2, Thomas Burroughs3, Jon Randolph Haber2
1Center for Innovation to Implementation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California.
Background:
Course of alcohol use disorders (AUD) during midlife is understudied, and most research designs are unable to attribute an unambiguous environmental explanation to observed findings.
Objectives & Methods:
Test whether socio-contextual factors are linked to differences in the course of problem drinking during midlife. Participants were 163 monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs concordant for a history of AUD but discordant on problem drinking in the past 10 years.
Results:
Frequency of drinking with spouse, and peer and emotional problems were associated with discordance.
Conclusions And Scientific Significance:
Socio-contextual factors are linked to differences in course of problem drinking in midlife and are not confounded by genetic effects. (Am J Addict 2015;24:193-196).
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