Discriminative features of alcoholics classified according to family history

By means of discriminant analysis, the frequently proposed distinction of alcoholics according to family history of alcoholism was tested. The most powerful discriminative factors were dysfunctional attitudes, some particular personality characteristics, and perceived parental rearing patterns. The results lend support to the assumption to regard alcoholics with a positive family history of alcoholism as a homogenous subgroup characterized by a specific etiopathogenesis.