A prospective study of young men at high risk for alcoholism. Social and psychological characteristics.
In a prospective longitudinal study of alcoholism, we applied the high-risk method using a Danish birth cohort (9125 consecutive deliveries, 1959 to 1961). From the cohort, 134 sons of alcoholic fathers (high-risk group) and 70 matched controls without parental alcoholism were selected for study. Extensive data were collected in a multidisciplinary etiologic approach. We report the social and psychological characteristics from a "premorbid" assessment when the subjects were 19 to 20 years old. The high-risk group reported more disrupted familial conditions during childhood than the control group. Both groups had a drinking pattern similar to that of the general Danish population at the same age. No alcoholic subjects were found. The high-risk group was characterized by poor verbal ability and impulsive behavior. We plan a follow-up examination of the sample.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005220:Fathers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment