The main clinical correlates of the early onset class of alcohol dependence were specific phobia, antisocial behaviors and most of substance use disorders. The finding that specific phobia is the only mental disorder associated with an early onset of dependence among alcohol dependent subjects is unexpected. Nevertheless, specific phobia was associated with an increased risk of alcohol lifetime alcohol dependence (adjusted O.R 2,7,CI: 2.41–3.02) (Stinson et al., 2007), this risk being highly comparable with the one associated with social phobia (adjusted OR: 2.7, CI:2.36–3.20) (Stinson et al., 2007) or generalized anxiety disorder (adjusted OR: 2.8, CI:2.46–3.24) (Grant et al., 2005). The association of specific phobia with an early onset of alcohol dependence may also be related to the early age at onset of specific phobia in the NESARC (mean 9,1 years) (Stinson et al., 2007). Indeed, the age at onset of the comorbid disorder is a plausible confounding factor, since individuals with an early onset of mental disorders exhibit early alcohol consumption and usually have an early age at interview. Therefore, the fact that social phobia is the sole mental
