These analyses have some potential implications for research and clinical settings, as well as for prevention efforts (Schuckit et al., 2012a). Researchers may benefit from the finding that the SRE is tapping upon an important risk factor for future adverse alcohol outcomes throughout adulthood, and that there is no evidence that the information associated with this questionnaire diminishes greatly between age 35 (T15) and age 50 (T30). It is also important to recognize that studies may benefit from including both alcohol challenge and SRE measures of LR in their protocol whenever possible, as the genes and environmental factors associated with each could vary, and more research is required to flush out such potential differences. The data also raise the possibility that clinicians may find that the simple and inexpensive SRE questionnaire might be useful as a correlate and predictor of future alcohol problems in their patients. Thus, while more study is needed, perhaps the SRE might be used to identify patients likely to have current alcohol problems, even when they are reluctant to report the problematic drinking itself.
