GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LIFETIME PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS BETWEEN SONS ANDDAUGHTERS OF ALCOHOLIC MOTHERS - A PILOT-STUDY

Lifetime prevalence of selected psychiatric disorders was assessed in 24 independent pairs of adult siblings (brother-sister) with an alcoho lic mother, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Adult females wer e as likely as adult males to have had one or more lifetime diagnosis of psychiatric disorder. Lifetime prevalence of affective disorders wa s the same in male and female siblings. Although not statistically sig nificant, compared with their sister, men were 3 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence, and 3.5 times more l ikely to have had a diagnosis of general anxiety disorder. When compar ed with their brother, women were 1.66 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of drug abuse/dependence, 3 times more likely to have had a diagnosis of panic disorder, and 6 times more likely to have been dia gnosed with phobia; however, these differences were not significant.