RISK-FACTORS FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE - A QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY

Several factors, known to associate with alcoholism, have not been stu died together earlier as determinants of alcohol dependence, and takin g into account possible interactions. A representative sample of 302 m ale and 312 female Finns, aged 19 to 81 years, answered a computerized questionnaire in January 1996. The diagnosis of alcohol dependence wa s based on the ICD-10 criteria. There were 66 (10.8%) subjects with cu rrent (past 12-month) ICD-10 alcohol dependence. After adjusting for o ther potential correlates in logistic regression analysis, alcohol dep endence was more common among subjects high on both asocial behavior a nd on thinking that his or her behavior is determined mainly by chance or by other people (external control) than among the rest [odds ratio (OR) 4.4; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.8-10.9]. Likewise, alcoh ol dependence was more common among subjects who recalled that they we re highly stimulated when intoxicated by alcohol (OR 3.4; 95% CI 1.9-6 .0). High predisposition to anxiety associated strongly with alcohol d ependence among males (OR 13.8; 95% CI 4.4-43.1), but not among female s (OR 2.5; 95% CI 0.7-9.1). Several of the aforementioned correlates m ay be modifiable risk factors for alcohol dependence.