The author ascertained the family history of alcoholism in first-degree
relatives and extended family members from interviews with 161 men with
primary alcoholism consecutively admitted to an inpatient treatment
program, as well as from one or two resource persons for each patient.
Although 56% (N = 90) of the patients reported no history of alcoholism in
first-degree relatives, this decreased to 41% (N = 66) when data from
resource persons were added. An additional 10% (N = 16) had evidence of an
alcoholic second-degree family member. Men with alcoholic relatives had
more early social problems and more severe alcohol-related pathology. The
author explores the implications of these findings.Abstract Teaser