Relationship of family history of alcoholism to patterns of drinking and physical dependence in male alcoholics

Abstract

The occurrence of physical dependence, morning drinking and binge drinking was assessed in alcoholic men in relation to family history of problem drinking. The incidence of physical dependence, binge drinking and morning drinking was higher in men with a family history of problem drinking than in men without such a history. Physical dependence also developed earlier in family history positive subjects than in family history negative ones. The incidence of physical dependence was higher in subjects who reported binge drinking or morning drinking than in others. These results indicate that family history of problem drinking is associated with severe alcohol abuse resulting in early development of physical dependence.