Perhaps future examinations of alternative approaches to the meaning of traitedness may clarify the current results. The strongest correlate of traitedness on the alcohol dependence continuum among examined variables was cognitive dysfunction. Traitedness was also modestly related to alcohol involvement, even with the alcohol dependence continuum trait score controlled. This pattern might suggest that individuals who reach the highest levels of alcohol involvement (hence perhaps leading to cognitive impairment) are those who manifest a particular characteristic progression of alcohol-related symptoms. Although empirical adherence to this progression did not appear to influence or moderate treatment outcome in Project MATCH, future research--perhaps using samples with wide variability in current placement on a putative developmental progression of alcohol dependence--is clearly needed to further understand this potentially important concept.
