The high and low-risk (control) children/adolescents are participants in one of two ongoing family studies (Cognitive and Personality Factors in Relatives of Alcoholics family study [CPFFS] and the Biological Risk Factors in Relatives of Alcoholic Women family study [BRFFS]). The high-risk families had been identified through a proband pair of alcohol dependent siblings. One member of the pair was in a substance abuse treatment facility in the Pittsburgh area at the time of recruitment (late 1980’s and early 1990’s). Probands were screened (Diagnostic Interview Schedule [DIS]) (Robins et al., 1981) for the presence of alcohol dependence (AD) and other Axis I (DSM-III) psychopathology (Feighner Criteria for AD was also obtained). Family history information for biological relatives provided screening information to determine if the proband might have a same-sex sibling meeting criteria for alcohol dependence. If this appeared to be the case, the proband assisted in the recruitment of his/her sibling who then completed the same diagnostic assessments.
