Related Experiment Videos
Alcoholic men with no alcoholic first-degree relatives
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|April 1, 1983
Summary
Family history of alcoholism is more common than initially reported by patients. Alcoholism in relatives correlates with increased social problems and disease severity in men undergoing treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcoholism is a complex disorder with potential genetic and environmental influences.
- Understanding family history is crucial for assessing risk and treatment approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of alcoholism in the family history of men with primary alcoholism.
- To examine the correlation between family history of alcoholism and patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Interviews were conducted with 161 men admitted to an inpatient alcoholism treatment program.
- Family history data were collected from patients and supplemented by information from resource persons.
Main Results:
- Initially, 56% of patients reported no first-degree relatives with alcoholism, but this figure dropped to 41% when resource persons' data were included.
- An additional 10% had a second-degree relative with alcoholism.
- Men with a family history of alcoholism exhibited more early social problems and greater alcohol-related pathology.
Conclusions:
- Family history of alcoholism is often underreported by patients alone.
- A positive family history is associated with more severe outcomes in individuals with alcoholism.
- Comprehensive family history assessment, including collateral information, is vital in understanding alcoholism.