Follow-up analyses were then conducted for 8 identified linkage peaks by conducting linkage analysis for each of the 12 alcohol dependence symptoms assessed by the SSAGA across the support intervals for the identified peaks with each symptom at each peak representing a unique statistical test. Support intervals were defined as the region surrounding a linkage peak yielding a LOD score that was greater than the maximum LOD – 1 in each direction. As a final step, exploratory linkage analyses were conducted for the presence of one or more withdrawal symptoms (“experienced uncontrollable shaking due to drinking” or “experienced withdrawal symptoms”), one or more symptoms of severe drinking (“unable to reduce drinking,” “wanted to quit drinking 3 or more times,” “little time for non-drinking related activities,” or “drinking interfered with work or social responsibilities”), and one or more symptoms related to medical or mental health problems (“continued drinking despite psychological problems” or “Continued drinking despite physical health problem”). These symptom grouping were used previously to identify genetic loci that confer risk to alcohol dependence in a Native American population (Ehlers et
