Across the four groups, the majority of the subjects were females, except group 2. To investigate potential gender-specific differences between bipolar I and II subjects with and without comorbid alcohol dependence, the analyses were repeated separately for both sexes. Regarding the baseline assessment, while male subjects were more often unemployed and had a lower rate of college degrees, significantly more alcohol-related violence (including more arguments and physical fights), a higher number of alcohol-related problems (T-value: 1.99, p = 0.049) and antisocial personality disorder diagnoses (χ2 value: 10.59, p = 0.014). Females were more often treated for mania (χ2 value: 10.49, p = 0.015) and reported higher number of symptoms during the most severe depressive episode (F-value: 3.75, p = 0.014), whereas males more often received medication during their most severe mania (χ2 value: 16.66, p = 0.001). During the follow-up period, females reported a more often craving (χ2 value: 12.26, p = 0.007), alcohol-related violent incidents (χ2 value: 13.40, p = 0.004), mental problems (χ2 value: 9, 58, p = 0.02), groups 2 and 4.
