Assessing and tracking family histories of alcoholism.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to (1) determine the rates of family history of alcoholism among a community sample, using both specific questions and structured interviews, (2) document conversions from negative (FH-) to positive (FH+) alcoholism diagnoses among parents and grandparents of subjects, and (3) investigate the concordance between interview and questionnaire methods in assessing alcoholism in family members.


METHODS
Information concerning alcoholism among relatives of a sample of 1,201 (620 female) probands was gathered longitudinally over a 13-year period, spanning adolescence into adulthood. At Times 1 through 3 of the study, information was gleaned from personal interviews with subjects, medical health forms and information from subjects' parents, which was used to determine a "best estimate diagnosis." At Time 4, the Family History Research Diagnostic Criteria (FH-RDC) interview was used.


RESULTS
The number of subjects having an alcoholic relative increased at each test time with the largest rise occurring at Time 4. Over 80% of subjects whose parent converted to FH+ at Time 4 had previously described that parent as a heavy or problem drinker.


CONCLUSIONS
The higher than previously seen escalation in FH+ status occurring at Time 4 is speculated to be the result of one or more of the following: an actual increase in the number of relatives becoming alcoholic, a newfound awareness on the part of probands about alcohol-related problems, the fact that a global judgment or single behavior observation provides an inadequate indication of familial alcoholism, or that the FH-RDC may include a more global measure of "alcohol-related problems" or "problem drinking."
Johnson
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Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855, USA.
Bennett
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors