Female alcoholism: Differences between female alcoholics with and without a history of additional substance misuse

The purpose of the present study was to investigate personality traits and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, as well as occurrence of persona lity disorder criteria, fan-Lily characteristics, and criminal activity as related to misuse pattern in a sample of female in-patients with severe alc ohol dependence. In accordance with theoretical assumptions and empirical f indings of underlying neurobiological correlates of disinhibition in indivi duals with double or multiple misuse patterns, the female alcoholics were d ivided into subgroups with: (1) alcohol as their single drug of misuse (ALC ; n = 16); (2) a history of additional substance misuse (ALC-DRUG; n = 11). Platelet MAO activity of the female subgroups was studied in comparison to a control group of non-clinical female subjects. Marked differences were o btained between the two subgroups. The ALC-DRUG females scored significantl y higher with regard to Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) impulsivenes s, anxiety-related traits, and non-conformity, displayed higher frequency o f depression in first degree relatives, were more frequently involved in cr iminal activity, and more frequently diagnosed for any personality disorder according to DSM-IV, axis II. Finally, the ALC-DRUG females displayed sign ificantly lower platelet MAO activity than controls. In conclusion, the res ults support the usefulness of a classification of severe alcoholic female subjects according to having/not having a history of additional substance m isuse. The present female alcoholics with a history of additional misuse fo rmed a group of individuals fulfilling the criteria similar for male type 2 alcoholism.