title: Psychological characteristics of children of alcoholics.
abstract: More than 20 years ago, researchers first noted that children of alcoholics (COA's) appeared to be affected by a variety of problems over the course of their life span. Such problems include fetal alcohol syndrome, which is first manifested in infancy; emotional problems and hyperactivity in childhood; emotional problems and conduct problems in adolescence; and the development of alcoholism in adulthood. Although much has been learned over the ensuing two decades, a number of controversial research areas remain. In particular, debate stems from the fact that despite a common interest in COA's, clinically focused literature and research-focused literature have resulted in two distinct bodies of knowledge. This article reviews important research results, with emphasis on findings generated by the alcohol-research community. Attention also is given to examining the empirical validity of concepts that have been advanced by several influential clinicians from the COA field.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sher
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans