sample developed AUD at a higher rate than the 12.7% general population rate (1), the final AUD+ sample size was modest. However, using two similar but not overlapping outcome approaches may ameliorate concerns about sample size. Using AUD+ vs AUD− at year 10 provided a practical clinical endpoint used by clinicians, and notably, 64% of AUD+ subjects met DSM-IV alcohol dependence at some point through follow-up, versus 7% in the AUD− group. The AUD SX trajectories construct provided a data-driven approach providing consistency with our prior work (11,19). All of the participants in the high AUD SX subgroup met alcohol dependence through follow-up, compared with 26% and 0% in the intermediate and low AUD SX groups. While details on consequences and distress related to excessive drinking was beyond the scope of this paper, persons in the AUD+ group had a higher likelihood of seeking advice or help on drinking or seriously considering getting help relative to the AUD− group (49% vs 8%).
