Although the similarity of our findings to those reported by Roache et al. (2008), which was also a secondary analysis, supports the validity of the age-f-onset subtypes, prospective replication in larger samples is needed to validate this approach to subtyping individuals in treatment trials of serotonergic medications. A key point, though, is that irrespective of which typologic approach one uses, a substantial subgroup of alcohol-dependent individuals benefit from treatment with sertraline. Equally important, however, is that a substantial number of individuals also appear either to derive no benefit (S′-allele carriers) or to be harmed (earlier-onset L′ homozygotes) by such treatment.
