FAMILIAL AGGREGATION OF DSM-IV ALCOHOL-USE DISORDERS - EXAMINATION OFTHE PRIMARY-SECONDARY DISTINCTION IN A GENERAL-POPULATION SAMPLE

This study examined the familial aggregation of alcoholism in subgroup s of respondents classified with respect to the primary-secondary dist inction as it is related to DSM-IV major depression and alcohol use di sorders. Rates of alcoholism among specific first- and second-degree r elatives of male and female probands with primary, secondary, and conc urrent depression (i.e., the comorbid groups) and with major depressio n only were compared with one another and with a normal control group. The results of this general population survey that uses a large repre sentative sample of the U.S. were at variance with some findings from the clinical literature with regard to familial aggregation. Greater r ates of alcoholism were found among first- and second-degree relatives of the major depression only group compared with normal controls. Mal e and female probands of all three comorbid groups were not shown to c onvey a greater risk of alcoholism to their offspring compared with th e normal control group or the major depression only group. The discrep ancy between clinical research findings and those of this general popu lation study were discussed in terms of methodological considerations.