PERSONALITY PATHOLOGY AND DRINKING IN YOUNG MEN AT HIGH AND LOW FAMILIAL RISK FOR ALCOHOLISM

Objective: Three groups varying in familial alcoholism risk were compa red with respect to amount of alcohol consumption, presence of persona lity pathology, and the relationship between personality pathology and alcohol consumption. Method: Research subjects were young adult men r ecruited from local colleges, a trade school and the community. The ri sk groups included (1) a group with a biological alcoholic father and significant additional familial alcoholism (n = 106); (2) subjects wit h an alcoholic father, but without significant additional familial alc oholism (n = 100); and (3) a group with no paternal alcoholism and at most only one second/third-degree alcoholic relative (n = 190). Absolu te daily ounces of alcohol was determined using a standard quantity-fr equency scale. Prevalence of DSM-III-R personality disorders (PDs) was evaluated using the Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Revised both w ith and without application of an impairment and distress scale. Famil ial risk determination was based on agree ment between four separate s elf-report assessments. Results: The first group consumed significantl y more alcohol than the other two groups, which did not differ in alco hol consumption. The first group's subjects were more likely to meet c riteria for virtually all of the PD diagnoses than were the other two groups. A greater proportion of the second group's subjects qualified for various PDs than did the third group's subjects. Personality patho logy was consistently or usually associated with more drinking in the first and third groups, respectively, but associated with less consump tion in the second group. Conclusions: Young men with high-density fam ilial alcoholism are at greater risk for the development of alcoholism than those with alcoholic fathers and little additional familial alco holism. Relationships between personality pathology and alcohol consum ption, and possibly the development of alcoholism, differ for the thre e risk groups.